{{Short description|Welsh Victoria Cross recipient (1897–1959)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox military person |name=Henry Weale |birth_date=2 October 1897 |death_date= 13 January 1959 (aged 61) |birth_place=[[Shotton, Flintshire]], Wales |death_place= [[Rhyl]], [[Denbighshire]], Wales |burial_place=Rhyl Cemetery |image=File:Henry Weale VC, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.png |image_size=200px |caption=Weale circa 1919 |nickname= |allegiance={{UK}} |service_years= |rank=Sergeant |branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]] |commands= |unit=[[Royal Welch Fusiliers|Royal Welsh Fusiliers]] |battles= [[World War I|First World War]] |awards= [[Victoria Cross]] |relations= }} '''Henry Weale''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (2 October 1897 – 13 January 1959) was a [[Wales|Welsh]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
He was a 20 years old [[Lance-Corporal]] in the 14th Battalion, [[Royal Welch Fusiliers|Royal Welsh Fusiliers]], [[British Army]] when on the 26 August 1918 during the [[World War I|First World War]], the following deed took place at [[Bazentin-le-Grand]] in France, for which he was awarded the VC.
{{Quote|For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack. The adjacent battalion having been held up by enemy machine guns, L./Cpl. Weale was ordered to deal with the hostile posts. When his Lewis gun failed him, on his own initiative he rushed the nearest post and killed the crew, then went for the others, the crews of which fled on his approach, this gallant N.C.O. pursuing them. His very dashing deed cleared the way for the advance, inspired his comrades, and resulted in the capture of all the machine guns.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31012|supp=y|page=13473|date=12 November 1918}}</ref>}}
He later achieved the rank of [[sergeant]].
Weale died aged 61 on 13 January 1959 and is buried at [[Rhyl]], Denbighshire.<ref name=VCorg/> In 2010 a memorial garden was opened in his memory in his birth town of [[Shotton, Flintshire|Shotton]], while the Army Reserve centre in [[Queensferry, Flintshire]], is now named the Henry Weale VC Hall.
==The medal== His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum]], [[Caernarfon Castle]], [[Gwynedd]], [[Wales]].<ref name=VCorg>{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/cowalnor.htm|title=Grave Locations for Holders of the Victoria Cross in: North Wales |website=victoriacross.org.uk |access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *[[Monuments to Courage]] (David Harvey, 1999) *[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997) *{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=Road to Victory 1918|series=[[VCs of the First World War]]|year=2014|orig-date=2002|publisher=[[The History Press]]|isbn=978-0750953610}}
==External links== *[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/cowalnor.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Clwyd, Wales)''
{{Royal Welsh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weale, Henry}} [[Category:1897 births]] [[Category:1959 deaths]] [[Category:People from Shotton, Flintshire]] [[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]] [[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers soldiers]] [[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]] [[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]] [[Category:Welsh recipients of the Victoria Cross]] [[Category:Military personnel from Flintshire]]