Herbert Fawcett

Born in Gateshead in 1893, Herbert Fawcett was a civil engineer before he enlisted in The Northumberland Fusiliers in 1915. In 1917, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion DLI. On 27 May 1918, at Concevreux, 5 DLI was destroyed, losing over 650 men killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Collecting survivors from various units, Second Lieutenant Fawcett was later awarded the Military Cross for "the initiative he displayed and for the courage with which he held on to his position". Herbert Fawcett died in 1978.