Hero Great War soldier who refused to surrender

Christ's Hopsital The Great War exhibition. Lt Col. Wilfrith Elstob VC, DSO, MC died aged 29 SR1605098 SUS-160219-125936001

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Every man who pulled on a uniform and fought for King and country in the hellish battlefields of World War One deserved the title '˜hero'. Of the Chichester heroes, the actions of one man stood out.

His name was Wilfrith Elstob and he died in Saint-Quentin, France, in 1918, as he refused to surrender a fort known as Manchester Hill, despite being vastly outnumbered. His bravery saw him posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Wilfrith was born in Chichester on September 8 1888, the son of Church of England vicar John George Elstob and his wife Frances Alice. His father work at Chichester Cathedral when Wilfrith was born.

He was educated at Christ’s Hospital School between 1898 and 1905, where he was a member of Coleridge B House and played rugby for the 1st team. He also served in the school cadet corps and reached the rank of Lance Corporal.

Mike Barford (Hon Curator of the CH Museum) Christ's Hopsital The Great War exhibition. Mike's holding replica medals belonging to Lt Col. Wilfrith Elstob VC; DSO; MC Pic Steve Robards SR1605094 SUS-160219-125924001

He graduated from Manchester University in 1909 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Wilfrith was a teacher when war was declared and volunteered for the Army, being commissioned into the Manc