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Lt.Col. Neville Bowes Elliott-Cooper VC, DSO, MC
British Army 8th Btn. Royal Fusiliers
(d.11th Feb 1918)
Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott-Cooper was the youngest son of Sir Robert Elliott-Cooper, KCB. He was born on January 22nd 1889 in London, and later educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on 30th November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. An extract from The London Gazette dated 12th February 1918 records the following particulars:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Hearing that the enemy had broken through our outpost line, he rushed out of his dug-out, and on seeing them advancing across the open he mounted the parapet and dashed forward calling upon the Reserve Company and details of the Battalion Headquarters to follow. Absolutely unarmed, he made straight for the advancing enemy, and under his direction our men forced them back 600 yards. While still some forty yards in front he was severely wounded. Realizing that his men were greatly outnumbered and suffering heavy casualties, he signalled to them to withdraw, regardless of the fact that he himself must be taken prisoner. By his prompt and gallant leading he gained time for the reserves to move up and occupy the line of defence."
Neville Bowes Elliott-Cooper was aged 29 when he died of wounds whilst as a POW in Hanover, Germany. He is buried in the Hamburg Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Germany.
