Victoria Cross commemoration event to celebrate Frome’s war hero

Wilfred Fuller

A SPECIAL service of commemoration will be held at Christ Church for a Frome military hero who was awarded the Victoria Cross 100 years ago. 

Lance Corporal Wilfred Dolby Fuller received the Victoria Cross – the highest and most prestigious award that can be awarded in the British and Commonwealth forces – from King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1915 for his actions near the Rue Tilleloy northwest of Mauquissart, France, during the battle of Neuve Chapelle during World War One.

The commemoration event to be held at Christ Chuch will take place on Sunday 15th March and members of the The Grenadier Guards’ Association and The Retired Police Officers’ Association will be present with civic representatives from Frome and Mansfield, along with John Fuller, L/Cpl Fullers’ son.

Local and national uniformed organisations will also parade on that day with colours and standards.

Lance-Corporal Fuller  earned the Victoria Cross for his actions as he saw a party of the enemy trying to escape along a communication trench. Fuller worked his way around to the head of the German column and killed the first in line with a grenade. The remaining Germans, approximately 50, chose to surrender, as they were apparently short on ammunition and Fuller was blocking their escape route – and he had plenty of grenades left. Lance-Corporal Fuller was alone at the time.

He received his Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 4th June 1915. In September of the same year, at the express wish of the Tsar of Russia, he was also decorated by the King at Sheffield with the Russian Order of St George. After being presented with his medal by King George V, Fuller later joined the Somerset Constabulary where he served Frome from Rodden Road Police Station. He retired from the police in 1939 and remained in residence in Frome. He died aged 54 in 1947 and he lies buried at Christ Chuch.

The commemoration service will take place from 2pm.