Maurice Dease
- Born
- 1889-09-28 12:00:00
- Died
- 1914-08-23 12:00:00
- Gender
- Male
Maurice Dease was born on the 28th of September 1889 in Coole, County Westmeath. He was educated in England and attended a military college.
As a young man Dease enlisted in the British military forces. By the age of 24 he was a lieutenant in the 4th battalion of The Royal Fusiliers. During World War I, Dease was involved in a fight at Mons, Belgium. On the 23rd of August 1914, his battalion were defending the Nimy railway bridge. Dease was operating a machine gun. Though he was hit several times, Dease refused to stand down, continuing to fire the machine gun until he was eventually carried away by his men after being hit for a fifth time. Dease was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross for his bravery on that day. His was the first Victora Cross to be awarded in the FIrst World War.
Dease died of the wounds he sustained on that day. He is buried at the St Symphorien Cemetery in Mons and is commemorated with plaques on the Nimy Bridge, in Westminster, and in Glasnevin Cemetery.
