VC group, Lieutenant Arthur Batten-Pooll, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1916 (metal)

Victoria Cross group awarded to Lieutenant (later Captain) Arthur Hugh Henry Batten-Pooll, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1916. On 25 June 1916 near Colonne, France, Lieutenant Batten-Pooll was in command of a raiding party when, on entering the enemy's lines he was severely wounded by a bomb which broke and mutilated all the fingers of his right hand. In spite of this he continued to direct operations with unflinching courage. Half an hour later during the withdrawal, while personally assisting in the rescue of other wounded men, he received two further wounds, but refusing assistance, he walked to within 100 yards of our lines when he fainted and was carried in by the covering party. Batten-Pooll (1891-1971) had previously served with the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, but had requested a transfer to an infantry regiment as he was more likely to see action. He was decorated with this VC by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 4 November 1916. Batten-Pool also received the Military Cross (25 February 1917), British War Medal, Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf, King George VI Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.