251127 Pte. Wilfred Geary MM, MID.British Army 8th Battalion East Surrey Regiment from:Billingshurst My Grandfather, Wilfred Geary, joined the Army in March 1916 with his brother Ralph. They both joined the Royal Sussex Regiment but both were later transferred to the East Surrey Regiment before going to France in September 1916.
Granddad was posted to the 8th Battalion and Ralph to the 9th Battalion and both trained as Lewis gunners. Granddad saw action on the Somme and then at Passchendale at the Battle of Langemark. He was with his Platoon and part was cut off from the rest of the battalion by heavy German fire. They came up to a broken down Tank and he and 5 other men sheltered inside. Then the enemy laid down a heavy barrage and seeing they where in danger he told everyone to get out but most of them were too exhausted or scared. Only through his willpower and strength and character he got everyone out of the tank in a few moments when running to the lines the tank took a direct hit. Granddad received a Mention in Dispatches.
A month later he was wounded by shrapnel and the same day his brother, my Great Uncle Ralph, was wounded receiving a shot to the head from a sniper but he amazingly survived.
In August 1918 at the Battle of St Quintin Canal he rescued his platoon sergeant was wounded and stranded in no man's land he went out under heavy fire and rescued him. He also attempted the rescue of another man but was beaten back by heavy fire. Granddad was awarded the Military Medal but we later heard he was going to be recommended for the Victoria Cross but his commanding officer was killed before he could put his report in.
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