Alfred Toye

Who was Alfred Toye?

Brigadier Alfred Maurice Toye VC MC 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.

Toye enlisted into the Royal Engineers as a bugler in 1912 before being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment during World War I. Before joining the Army, Toye was an active Boy Scout, attaining the rank of patrol leader at the 2nd Aldershot Scout Troop.

He was 20 years old, and an Acting British Army Captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 March 1918 at Eterpigny Ridge, France, Captain Toye displayed conspicuous bravery and fine leadership. He three times re-established a post which had been captured by the enemy and, when his three other posts were cut off, he fought his way through the enemy with one officer and six men. He counter-attacked with 70 men and took up a line which he maintained until reinforcements arrived.