223769 Pte. Victor M. Parsons MM.British Army 1st Btn. Essex Regiment from:Harwich, England "At Monchy-le-Preux on 14th of April 1917, when an attack had failed and the Germans were advancing on the village, he displayed the greatest gallantry as one of a small party hastily collected to oppose the hostile advance. This party maintained itself in the face of overwhelming odds, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, and completely checked him on this part of the line." London Gazette, 9th of July 1917.
After his Battalion was wiped out during a counter-attack, Victor Parsons, with a collection of eleven officers and men from the Newfoundland Regiment, proceeded to hold off a German advance until reinforcements arrived after eleven hours. For this action, he was awarded the Military Medal.
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