George Harold Eardley

Company Sergeant Major George Harold Eardley VC, MM (6 May 1912 – 11 September 1991) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Brother of Arnold Eardley and Elgin Eardley.

Biography

Eardley was 32 years old, and an acting sergeant in the 4th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, British Army during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC.

On 16 October 1944, east of Overloon, the Netherlands, Sergeant Eardley's platoon was ordered to clear some orchards where a strong opposition was holding up the advance, but away from the objective the platoon was halted by automatic fire from machine-gun posts. Sergeant Eardley spotted one of these posts and moving forward under heavy fire killed the occupants at the post with a grenade. He went on to destroy two more posts single-handed, under fire so intense that it daunted those who were with him, but his action enabled the platoon to achieve its objective and thus ensured the success of the whole attack.

He later was appointed company sergeant major (CSM).

In June 1964 Eardley was involved in a car crash, the crash killed his first wife Winfred. Eardley survived the crash, but he had to have a limb amputated.

Following the death of his first wife Winfred, Eardley would later marry Nancy Barnett whom Eardley had dated during his teenage years.

Medals and Honours

George Harold Eardley VC MM was awarded the following medals: Victoria Cross