   douglas walter belcher vc (15 july 1889 â 3 june 1953) was an english recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. ==personal information== belcher was born on 15 july 1889 in surbiton, then in surrey, now in greater london, and was educated at tiffin school in kingston upon thames until 1903.http://www.tiffinschool.co.uk/ota/tiffnews/march2008.pdf "newsletter of the old tiffiniansâ association no. 235", march 2008 following his death on 3 june 1953, aged 63, he was buried at holy trinity churchyard, claygate."grave location for holders of the victoria cross in the county of: surrey" ==award of the victoria cross== belcher was a lance-sergeant in the 1/5th (city of london) battalion, london regiment (the london rifle brigade), british army, during the first world war, when the deed took place for which he was awarded the vc. he was 25 years old. on 13 may 1915, south of the wieltje-st. julien road, belgium, belcher was in charge of a portion of an advanced breastwork during continuous bombardment by the enemy. with very few men, belcher elected to remain and try to hold his position after the troops near him had been withdrawn, and with great skill he succeeded in his objective, opening rapid fire on the enemy, who were only 150-200 yards away, whenever he saw them collecting for an attack. this bold action prevented the enemy breaking through and averted an attack on the flank of one of our divisions. ==the medal== his medal is displayed at the royal green jackets museum in winchester. ==references==  * monuments to courage (david harvey, 1999) * the register of the victoria cross (this england, 1997) * vcs of the first world war - the western front 1915 (peter f. batchelor & christopher matson, 1999) {{persondata | name = belcher, douglas walter | alterna
1889_births 1953_deaths British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_I British_Army_personnel_of_World_War_II British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross British_World_War_I_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross King\'s_Royal_Rifle_Corps_officers London_Regiment_officers London_Regiment_soldiers People_educated_at_Tiffin_School People_from_Surbiton Royal_Army_Pay_Corps_officers