Alfred Toye
| Alfred Maurice Toye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
15 April 1897 Aldershot, Hampshire |
| Died |
6 September 1955 (aged 58) Tiverton, Devon |
| Buried at | Tiverton Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1912 - 1948 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit |
Royal Engineers Middlesex Regiment Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} Victoria CrossMilitary Cross Order of the Nile |
Brigadier Alfred Maurice Toye VC MC (15 April 1897, Aldershot[1] – 6 September 1955) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Military career
Toye enlisted into the Royal Engineers as a bugler[2] in 1912 before being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment during World War I. Before joining the Army, Toye was an active Boy Scout, attaining the rank of patrol leader at the 2nd Aldershot Scout Troop.
He was 20 years old, and an acting British Army Captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 March 1918 at Eterpigny Ridge, France, Captain Toye displayed conspicuous bravery and fine leadership. He three times re-established a post which had been captured by the enemy and, when his three other posts were cut off, he fought his way through the enemy with one officer and six men. He counter-attacked with 70 men and took up a line which he maintained until reinforcements arrived. In two subsequent operations he covered the retirement of his battalion and later re-established a line that had been abandoned before his arrival. He was twice wounded but remained on duty.[3]
After the War
From 1925 to 1932 he was chief instructor at the Royal Egyptian Military College and Commandant of War Office Schools of Chemical Warfare 1940- 1942. Toye then joined the teaching staff at the Staff College, Camberley. From 1934 to 1944 he was on active service with the 6th Airborne Division and with General Headquarters, Middle East from 1945 to 1948.[1] He later achieved the rank of Brigadier serving with the 6th Airborne Division in World War II.
Victoria Cross
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, England.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Aldershot Museum". Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- 1 2 "Devon Heritage". Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30675. p. 5556. 7 May 1918. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Location of grave and VC medal (Devonshire)
- Find-A-Grave biography