january january new_zealand recipient victoria_cross highest award gallantry face enemy awarded british commonwealth forces new awarded born bank worker world war began member new_zealand volunteered service abroad posted saw action opening day performed actions led award medically evacuated sickness shortly battle later served western finished war second lieutenant returned banking profession recalled active duty second world war served home time taken active duty december promoted rank lieutenant colonel commander signals retired banking career justice peace devonport died age early life born january printer wife completing formal education worked clerk joined later assigned years later transferred world war world war broke intention join royal_navy mother family history service british_army convinced enlist particularly tall initially rejected lack height persisted attempt enlist eventually joined assigned embarked main body middle_east october initially based egypt period training landed cove april opening day unit immediately set work laying communication lines early courage fire noted consideration gallantry award later campaign promoted corporal august series turkish positions gallipoli planned break stalemate developed initial landing august attacked prominent hill overlooking battlefield battle lasted days captured brigade second day command section unit laid maintained telephone lines brigade headquarters lines continuous gunfire time wounded bullets passed fabric fighting battle section collected major brigade headquarters nominated victoria_cross citation victoria_cross read follows corporal conspicuous bravery devotion duty ridge 7th august attacked established ridge corporal daylight continuous heavy fire succeeded laying telephone line old position new subsequently brought notice excellent work connected repair telephone lines day night heavy fire citation incorrectly refers actions august following day captured days battle evacuated gallipoli poor health suffering spent months england june rejoined unit western france later year participated commissioned second lieutenant wounded twice time france returned new_zealand late started formally discharged interwar period returned banking career war managing branches later retained link military rejoining placed retired list officers manager branch married union producing daughters second world war called result outbreak second world war placed active duty captain required serve overseas instead worked signals remaining new_zealand promoted major february active war service ended december achieved rank lieutenant colonel commander signals later life legacy returned eventually retired civilian resumed banking profession retired remained active community devonport justice peace died january shortly birthday ashes buried survived daughters wife gifted death displayed according daughter rarely spoke achievements wasn fact learn father award studied gallipoli primary school modest achievements expressed embarrassment recipient remains awarded lifetime member recognition rank time won awarded annually outstanding corporal trophy statue
Cyril Bassett