Person    | Male  Born 7/11/1891  Died 15/8/1971

Major Brett Cloutman, VC

Categories: Armed Forces, Law

War served, WW1 i

Commemorated on a memorial as having served in, and survived, WW1.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Brett Mackay Cloutman VC MC KC was a British Army officer. Son of A. B. Cloutman. Educated at Berkhamsted School, Bishop's Stortford College and London University where he was a member of the Royal Engineers contingent of the university's Officers' Training Corps. At the outbreak of WW1 he enlisted as a Rifleman in the Rangers (12th Battalion, London Regiment), reached the rank of Lance-Corporal, and in 1915 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Kent (Fortress) Engineers, a Territorial Force unit.

Awarded the Military Cross for an action in September 1918, and a few weeks later the action took place for which Cloutman won his VC. The official citation read: "For most conspicuous bravery on the 6th November, 1918, at Pont-sur-Sambre. Maj. Cloutman, after reconnoitring the river crossings, found the Quartes Bridge almost intact but prepared for demolition. Leaving his party under cover he went forward alone, swam across the river, and, having cut the "leads" from the charges, returned the same way, despite the fact that the bridge and all approaches thereto were swept by enemy shells and machine-gun fire at close range. Although the bridge was blown up later in the day by other means, the abutments remained intact."

The bridge had been prepared for demolition by the Germans, and was well defended. By cutting the wires, Cloutman prevented the enemy from blowing it up at the time. He was seen at the bridge, however, and escaped under an intense fire from its guards. The fact that the abutments were not destroyed later meant that the bridge could be more quickly replaced by the Allies. This was the last act to win a VC in WW1.

After WW1 he became a lawyer, went on to serve in WW2, became a Kings Counsel and was knighted in 1957.

Born Muswell Hill. Died Highgate.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Major Brett Cloutman, VC

Commemorated ati

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Brett Cloutman VC

{Beneath a representation of the Victoria Cross medal:} Major Brett Cloutman,...

Read More

Other Subjects

J. R. Bower
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
John Arthur Andrews

John Arthur Andrews

John Arthur Andrews was born on 29 June 1886 in Deptford, Kent (now Greater London), the son of George Ambrose Charles Andrews (1861-1907) and Eliza Frances Andrews née Atkins (b.1862). His birth w...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
H. Fuller

H. Fuller

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. J. Fluester

H. J. Fluester

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
J. E. Graham

J. E. Graham

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Robert Trotter

Robert Trotter

Initially we could find nothing about Trotter but shortly after publishing the Clapham trough we were contacted by Andrew Behan who told us about a Trotter fountain in Fulham with, crucially, his d...

Person, Benefactor

2 memorials
West Silvertown Urban Village

West Silvertown Urban Village

E16, Wesley Avenue

In our photo the plaque can be seen in the paving, in the shadow but catching the light. Quite a dull foundation stone which we may not ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
London Wall road

London Wall road

EC2, London Wall

Should we collect this type of memorial? Too dull? Duller than this one: North South route in Haringey? In a world where The Boring Talks...

1 subject commemorated, 5 creators
S. Ryan

S. Ryan

Name on one of the main panels of the East Ham WW1 memorial.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Highbury boundary marker - Kelross Road
1 subject commemorated