William Henry Metcalf

Who was William Henry Metcalf?

William Henry Metcalf VC, MM was a Canadian 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. Though born in the United States, Metcalf is also considered Canadian since he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914. He is one of only 6 Americans to receive the Victoria Cross.

Metcalf was one of seven Canadians to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on September 2, 1918. The other six Victoria Cross recipients were Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, John Francis Young, Cyrus Wesley Peck, Walter Leigh Rayfield, Bellenden Hutcheson and Arthur George Knight.

He was 23 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 2 September 1918 at Arras, France, when the right flank of the battalion was held up, Lance-Corporal Metcalf rushed forward under intense machine-gun fire to a passing tank and with his signal flag walked in front of the tank directing it along the trench in a perfect hail of bullets and bombs.