The team were in Sprotbrough on 6th November to clean the village Millennium Cross. Why this memorial ? Well Doncaster has the highest number of Victoria Crosses (VC) awarded for a town and will retain this honour even though we are officially a city. The VC is the highest award for valour and just over 1360 have been awarded since 1856 with seven to Doncaster men.
One such recipient is George (Harry) Wyatt VC who lived in Sprotbrough and is buried in Cadeby. The VCT maintain his grave and given that he was a resident and has relatives living in the village the charity offered to clean the Millennium Cross free of charge.
The work commenced on 6th November and was watched by passing residents and school children who wondered where all the steam was coming from. Keith Lumley (chair of trustees) and volunteer Neil Walker (both Sprotbrough residents) completed the clean supported by Steve Abell (VCT manager). Many people commented that they hadn’t noticed it until it was restored believing it was something new! Now cleaned and sat in the centre of the village on a site where George would have passed, the VCT were delighted to have cleaned in his name and in recognition of his service to his country and to the village of Sprotbrough.
Below is the citation for which he received his VC.
Lance Corporal GEORGE WYATT LANDRECIES, France 25/26 August 1914 He was 27 years old and serving in the 3rd Bn, Coldstream Guards when his unit was hotly engaged close to some farm buildings, the enemy fire setting light to some straw sacks in the farmyard. Wyatt twice dashed out under very heavy fire from the enemy, who were only 25 yards away, and extinguished the fire, making it possible to hold on to the position. Later, although wounded in the head, he continued firing until he could no longer see owing to the blood pouring down his face. The medical officer bound up his wound and ordered him to the rear, but he refused to go and returned to the firing line and went on fighting. He died on 22 January 1964.
Source Kevin Brazier - The Complete Victoria Cross.
Following WW1 Lance Corporal Wyatt VC returned to his position as Police Constable 14 in Doncaster and was later recognised for his bravery in saving a woman from a runaway horse.
