1881 A/Mjr. Brett Mackay Cloutman VC.British Army 59th Field Coy. Royal Engineers from:Muswell Hill, London Acting Major Brett Cloutman was commanding the 59th Field Company, Royal Engineers, when he won his VC, he was 26 years old. His citation reads:
"On 6 November 1918, at Pont-sur-Sambre, France, Major Cloutman, after reconnoitring the river crossings, found the Quartes Bridge almost intact but prepared for demolition. Leaving his party under cover he went forward alone, swam across the river and having cut the 'leads' from the charges returned the same way, despite the fact that the bridge and all the approaches were swept by enemy shells and machine-gun fire. Although the bridge was blown up later in the day by other means, the abutments remained intact."
This was the last act to win a VC in the First World War.
Brett Cloutman later achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served in The Second World War and in 1947 became Senior Chairman of the War Pensions Tribunal. He eventually became His Honour Lieutenant Colonel Sir Brett Cloutman VC MC.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.
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