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Born in September 1897, Ernest Egerton worked in Florence Colliery before World War One as a haulage hand. He enlisted aged 18 in the 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment in 1915, before transferring in 1916 to the 16th Sherwood Foresters. Two of his brothers also served in the army with his second brother William killed in action in August 1917 - just weeks before Ernest won his Victoria Cross (VC).

He was decorated after launching a solo attack on enemy dugouts at Passchendaele Ridge on 20 September 1917, shooting three Germans and taking 29 prisoners. His citation for the Victoria Cross read that the "reckless bravery of the NCO relieved in less than 30 seconds an extremely difficult situation. His gallantry is beyond all praise.鈥�

Ernest Egerton received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace in December 1917 before getting a hero's welcome in his home town in Stoke-on-Trent.

Gassed during the spring of 1918, Mr Egerton was given just months to live by doctors - but he returned to Staffordshire, got married in September 1918 and ended up settling in Blythe Bridge. He worked on the rural routes of the Staffordshire Moorlands firstly as a bus conductor and was later appointed an inspector.

After WW2, he worked as a security officer and lodgeman before retiring.

Mr Egerton died in 1966, aged 68, and was buried with a full military guard of honour at St Peter's church, Forsbrook.

Location: Egerton Close, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent ST11 9NS
Image of Ernest Egerton during World War One
Photograph courtesy of Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection)

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