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1206385
Cpt. David Philip Hirsch VC MID.
British Army 4th Btn. Yorkshire Regiment
from:Weetwood Grove, Leeds
(d.23rd April 1917)
Philip Hirsch was killed in action on the 23rd of April 1917, aged 20. Commemorated on Bay 5 on the Arras Memorial in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, he was the son of Harry and Edith Hirsch, of Weetwood Grove, Leeds.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 14th June, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. Having arrived at the first objective, Capt. Hirsch, although already twice wounded, returned over fire-swept slopes to satisfy himself that the defensive flank was being established. Machine gun fire was so intense that it was necessary for him to be continuously up and down the line encouraging his men to dig and hold the position. He continued to encourage his men by standing on the parapet and steadying them in the face of machine gun fire and counter-attack until he was killed. His conduct throughout was a magnificent example of the greatest devotion to duty."