SILLITOE Joseph
280656 WW1 Imperial Service in Lancashire Fusiliers and 7th Northumberland Fusiliers
16394 Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATION
Military Cross
Gazetted 29 July 1919, p9773
For conspicuous gallantry and initiative during the attack southeast of Ypres on Hill 60, and the Caterpillar, September 28th 1918. He led his men with great skill to the first objective, rushing a machine gun and capturing the crew. Pressing on beyond his objective, he rushed a battery, killed or made prisoners the crews, and captured the guns. During the attack on Wervicq on September 30th and October 1st and 2nd he pressed forward in face of heavy fire and made determined efforts to dislodge a machinegun from its pill-box. Throughout the operations he set a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty.
Military Medal
Gazetted 15 June 1917, p6024
In the Givenchy Section on the 18th April 1917, during a small raid on the enemy’s trenches, the officer in charge was severely wounded and entangled in the German wire. When the party was withdrawn, Sergeant Sillitoe refused to leave the officer, though ordered to do so. He cut him out of the wire and took him back over open ground about 40 yards under steady rifle fire, then took him another 100 yards through a crater, and finally got him into our trenches under rifle fire, thus preventing the enemy obtaining any identification.
AWARDS
Military Cross
Military Medal
British War Medal
Victory Medal
NOTES
Born 1892 Manchester, England
Enlisted Legion 1924 Manchester, England
Migrated to New Zealand
Died 21 August 1930 Auckland, New Zealand
Buried Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland [Soldiers Burial B, Row 3, Plot 31]
