Dates: (1897 - 1968)
Local Connection: Born at 13 Vicar's Hill, Ladywell, Lewisham and father mathematics master at St Dunstan's College, Catford.
War Service:
Lieutenant. 66 Squadron. Royal Flying Corps *.
London Gazetted on 1st May, 1918.
VCs Medal's Custodian is the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
He was also awarded the Italian Military Cross
Digest of Citation for the Victoria Cross reads:
On 30th March 1918 near Mansue, Italy, Lieutenant Jerrard, with two other officers during an offensive patrol, shot down one of five enemy aircraft. Then flying at 50 feet he attacked an aerodrome where approximately 19 machines were either landing or attempting to take off. He destroyed one of these, after which, he was attacked by more enemy aircraft but, seeing a fellow officer in difficulties, went to assist him, destroying a third enemy machine, then continued his attacks, retreating only when five enemy machines pursued him, on orders from the patrol leader. Even then he repeatedly turned to beat off the enemy until he was finally forced down.
later to become the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918.
A total of 628 Victoria Crosses were awarded during the First World War: 454 Victoria Crosses were awarded to UK-born recipients; 173 were awarded to servicemen who fought for Britain, but were born overseas; 1 person was awarded the Victoria Cross twice during the First World War. Special paving stones will be laid in the home towns of every UK soldier awarded the Victoria Cross as part of 2014's World War I centenary events. The specially-commissioned stones will be given to councils in the areas where the VC recipients were born. A total of 28 will be unveiled next year to commemorate medals awarded in 1914 and a further 600 will be laid in every year up to 2018. Jerrard's will be laid in March 2018 at Victoria Cross Memorial.
He attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the Lewisham-Shopping-Centre-Mural.
Details:
He was born on 3 December, 1897 at Lewisham and died on 14th May, 1968 at Lyme Regis, Dorset. His ashes are interred at Hillingdon, Uxbridge. His family lived in the Lewisham area for many years
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