George Brunt Saves Major Bernal's Life, 1st July 1916
- jimgrundyrule303
- Jul 1, 2016
- 1 min read
George Brunt, a miner from Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, enlisted in August 1914 aged 18. He went to France on 6th August 1915 and was serving with 11th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters) as it prepared for the Battle of the Somme.
On 1st July 1916, he helped rescue Major Greville H.W. Bernal DSO from no-man’s-land. Brunt stayed with Major Bernal for twelve hours, who had been shot through the foot, and helped him back to British lines after dark.
Bernal was invalided home and sent Brunt an engraved gold watch and chain as thanks for the assistance he gave him that day. Brunt wrote to his family with the news.
“I have received a watch today from Major Bernal. Our Colonel [Lt. Col. Watson], who got wounded in July, came back yesterday and gave it to me. I will send it home first chance I get as I might lose it.”
The gold half-hunter watch was inscribed as follows:
“Sergeant G. Brunt, 11th Sherwood Foresters. Presented in recognition of assistance given to Major G.H.W. Bernal, D.S.O., on July 1st, 1916.”
Bernal never rejoined the regiment. Brunt survived to be transferred to Class Z of the Army Reserve on 5th February 1919.
‘Nottinghamshire Free Press’, 20th October 1916.