THE GRAVE AND HEADSTONE COMMEMORATING PRIVATE TOM DRESSER VC, 7TH BATTALION, THE YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, HAS BEEN REFURBISHED IN THORNTREE RC CEMETERY IN MIDDLESBROUGH.
25 July 2015


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A service was held on Saturday, 25 July 2015 to commemorate Private Tom Dresser VC, 7th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment, by refurbishing his grave in Thorntree RC Cemetery in Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough. Although Tom Dresser was buried in the same grave as his wife, who died in 1965, his name was never added to the headstone. Through the efforts of the people below this has now been recitified.

The Ceremony was attended by Tom Dresser VC's son, also called Tom, and his two grandsons Brian and Paul along with their families. Tony Longstaff played the Last Post and the veterans and standard bearers attended along with the OIC of TS Erimus.

Appreciation was given to Middlesbrough Council, Lords Monumental Stonemasons for an excellent job they made of the headstone, and Father John Lumley of Corpus Christi Church for performing a moving service. Liz Chambers the Welfare Officer of the Combined Services Association should be congratulated for organising the refurbishment of the Dresser family headstone.

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 27 June 1917 ], Roeux, France, 12 May 1917, Private Tom Dresser, 7th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty ( near Roeux, France ). Private Dresser, in spite of being twice wounded on the way, and suffering great pain, succeeded in conveying an important message from Battalion Headquarters to the front line of trenches, which he eventually reached in an exhausted condition. His fearlessness and determination to deliver this message at any cost, proved of the greatest value to his Battalion at a critical period.

Tom Dresser was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 21st July 1917.

Tom Dresser's Victoria Cross and accompanying campaign medals are currently on loan to the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Tom Dresser died at home in Middlesbrough on the 9th April 1982 aged 91 and was buried in Thorntree RC Cemetery, Middlesbrough, in the grave of his wife who died in 1965.

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Iain Stewart, 28 July 2015