William Henry Metcalf


William Henry Metcalf VC, MM & Bar was an American soldier in the Canadian Army during World War I. Metcalf was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Although Metcalf was born in the United States, Metcalf is also considered Canadian since he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914. He is one of only six Americans to receive the Victoria Cross.

Military service

Metcalf was one of seven Canadian soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions on one single day, 2 September 1918, for actions across the Drocourt-Quéant Line near Arras, France. The other six recipients were Bellenden Hutcheson, Arthur George Knight, Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Cyrus Wesley Peck, Walter Leigh Rayfield and John Francis Young.
He was 23 years old, and a lance corporal in the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 2 September 1918 at Arras, France, when the right flank of the battalion was held up, Lance Corporal Metcalf rushed forward under intense machine-gun fire to a passing tank and with his signal flag walked in front of the tank directing it along the trench in a perfect hail of bullets and bombs. The machine-gun strong-point was overcome, very heavy casualties were inflicted and a critical situation was relieved. Later, although wounded, Corporal Metcalf continued to advance until ordered to get into a shell-hole and have his wounds dressed.

Victoria Cross citation

The citation reads:
In addition to the Victoria Cross, he was awarded the Military Medal and Bar.

Family life

Metcalf was born on 29 January 1894 at Talmadge, Washington, Maine, the son of Henry Metcalf and Theresa Lorinzo Varnum He married Dorothy Winifred Holland Metcalf on 20 November 1918 in Sussex, England, and had four children, William Scott Metcalf, Stuart Holland Metcalfe, Sheila D Metcalf, and Stanley H Metcalf. He died in South Portland, Cumberland, Maine on 8 August 1968.