Cyril Bassett

Cyril Bassett

Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett, VC, was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was the only soldier serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to be awarded the VC in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War. Born in Auckland, Bassett was a bank worker when the World War began.

About Cyril Bassett in brief

Summary Cyril BassettCyril Royston Guyton Bassett, VC, was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was the only soldier serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to be awarded the VC in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War. Born in Auckland, Bassett was a bank worker when the World War began. He volunteered for service abroad with NZEF and was posted to New Zealand Divisional Signal Company as a sapper. During the Battle of Chunuk Bair he performed the actions that led to his award of the VC. Medically evacuated due to sickness shortly after the battle, he later served on the Western Front and finished the war as a second lieutenant. Bassett returned to the banking profession but was recalled to active duty during the Second World War and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. When he retired from his banking career he became a justice of the peace in Devonport. He died in 1983 at the age of 91 and is buried in Auckland’s Mount Eden Cemetery, next to his wife Harriet, née Powley, a former member of the New Zealander’s Territorial Force.

He is survived by his wife, two children and a step-granddaughter. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. For confidential. support in the United States, call theNational Suicide Prevention Line on 800-273 8255, or click here for  information on how to get in touch with the Samaritans in the U.S., see www.samaritans.org for details. For confidential support on suicide matters call the National Suicide prevention line on 1 800 273 TALK (8255). For confidential help in the United States, contact the National suicide Prevention Line at 1-877-273‑8255.