'2nd Lieut Dorrell', Royal Horse Artillery, cigarette card, 1915

Cigarette card, from a series of 25 cards entitled, 'Victoria Cross Heroes', published by W D and H O Wills Limited, Bristol, 1915.

Portrait of 2nd Lieutenant George Thomas Dorrell (1880-1971) wearing Victoria Cross.

Dorrell joined the Army in 1895 at the age of 15. By outbreak of war in August 1915 he was a veteran, serving as a battery sergeant major with 'L' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. On 1 September 1914 he won the Victoria Cross (VC) during the retreat from Mons. His battery was serving with the 1st Cavalry Brigade when it was attacked by the German 4th Cavalry Division at Nery in France.

'The London Gazette' (16 November 1914) described how during a fierce attack by the enemy, all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, including the officer in command, who, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the firing until he died. Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell then took over command with the support of a sergeant and continued to fire one of the guns until all the ammunition was expended.

2nd Lieutenant Dorrell was later commissioned and survived the war, ending it with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He left the Army in 1921, but later served with the Home Guard during World War Two.

One of nine cigarette cards from an incomplete series.