George Jarratt was born in 1891 in England and worked as a clerk before enlisting in the military. During World War I, he initially served with the 12th Battalion Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) before transferring to the Royal Fusiliers. In May 1917, during the 2nd Battle of Arras, German soldiers captured George and some wounded comrades and placed them in a dugout. When a grenade landed in the dugout, George sacrificed himself to save the others by placing his body on the grenade, which exploded and killed him but saved the wounded men. For his heroic actions, George was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras

1. Early Life
George was born in Kennington, Surrey in 1891 the son of Frances and Levi Garratt a General Shopkeeper.
George had four siblings and in 1911 was employed as a Junior Clerk with the famous Beefeater Gin Company.
His mother is not recorded on the Census at this time.
In June 1915 George married Gertrude Elkins and during June 1916 she gave birth to a daughter Joyce.
Military Life
It has not been possible to trace George’s enlistment record but we know he initially served with the 12th
Battalion Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) before transferring to the Royal Fusiliers. We know little of
George’s time in the Fusiliers as his Service Record no longer exists.
He arrived in France on the 21st March 1917. On the 3rd May, aged 25, he died saving the lives of wounded
comrades after they were put into a dugout for their safety by German soldiers during the 2nd Battle of Arras.
The citation describing his actions was published in the London Gazette on the 8th June 1917 and reads:
‘’For most conspicuous bravery and devotion in deliberately sacrificing his life to save others. He had, together
with some wounded men, been taken prisoner and placed under guard in a dug-out. The same evening the
enemy were driven back by our troops, the leading infantrymen of which commenced to bomb the dug-outs. A
grenade fell in the dugout, and without hesitation Cpl. Jarratt placed both feet on the grenade, the subsequent
explosion blowing off both his legs. The wounded were later safely removed to our lines, but Cpl. Jarratt died
before he could be removed. By this supreme act of self-sacrifice the lives of these wounded were saved.’’
George has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Rank: Lance Sergeant
Service Number: G55295
Date of Birth: 22nd July 1891
Battalion: 8th Battalion
George Jarratt VC

2. An extract from a letter written to Mrs Jarratt by Lt
Col Elliott Cooper VC (whose medals can also be seen
in this gallery), June 10th 1917:
“all of us offer you our deepest sympathy that he did
not live to receive the cross. I saw your husband
shortly before he died, & I am quite sure that
although so severely wounded, the shock was so
great that he felt no pain. I could not help noting that
he seemed extraordinarily bright & cheerful, &
certainly was a splendid example of a magnificent
man…Your husband will remain a hero to this
battalion as long as it exists, & his name will help its
members to try to live up to his magnificent example”
On the 21st July 1917 King George VI presented George’s Victoria Cross to Gertrude and Joyce Jarratt in a ceremony at Hyde Park. Gertrude later
remarried at Kilburn, Middlesex in November 1921.
RFM.986 - Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Elliott-
Cooper VC, DSO, MC to Mrs Jarratt