Dates:
(1887 - 1915)
Local Connection:
Born in Forest Hill in the London Borough of Lewisham, not Essex as stated elsewhere.
War Service:
Private. 2nd Battalion. Lancashire Regiment, died of gas poisoning on 3 May 1915 at St Julienne, Ypres, Belgium.
London Gazetted on 29th June 1915. Digest of Citation for the Victoria Cross reads:
The Germans were advancing behind a wave of suffocating gas on the 2nd May 1915 near Ypres in Belgium, Private Lynn, although severely affected by the deadly fumes, managed a to use his machine gun to great effect against the enemy. When he was unable to see them he placed the machine gun on a Parapet enabling him a more effective field of fire, checking any further advance by the enemy. His gallantry had a great effect on his comrades. He died the following day in agony from the effects of gas poisoning.
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. Lynn's will be laid in June 2015 at Victoria Cross Memorial.
He is buried and commemorated in Grootebeek British Cemetery, Belgium.
Location of Memorial:
He is commemorated on the Lewisham Shopping Centre Mural and Christ Church, Forest Hill WW1 War Memorial and in the Book of Remembrance, St Saviour Forest Hill.
Details:
He was born in 1887 at Forest Hill.
Do you have more information on this person or the memorial they are commemorated on? If so click here to contribute information.
by Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence