Club commemorates First World War hero

Club Ambassador Gary Mabbutt joined the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Gina Adamou, to unveil a commemorative paving stone at the Hornsey War Memorial in memory of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Brett Mackay Cloutman – the final recipient of the Victoria Cross during the First World War.

As part of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s events to mark the Centenary of the First World War, all recipients of the Victoria Cross awarded between 1914 and 1918 have had a memorial stone unveiled in their honour in the borough they lived in.

Acting Major Cloutman's is the fourth and final commemorative stone to be laid in Haringey.

Cloutman was born on 9 April, 1887, in Muswell Hill and was educated at Bishop’s Stortford College in Hertfordshire. At the outbreak of World War One he enlisted as a Rifleman in the Rangers 12th Battalion London Regiment. He progressed through the ranks and became Acting Major in command of the 59th Field Company of the Royal Engineers.

He was awarded the Military Cross in September, 1918, and two months later was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Pontsur-Sambre in Northern France. He showed great bravery by swimming across a river which was swept by enemy shells and machine-gun fire to the Quartes Bridge where he proceeded to cut explosive wires, preventing the enemy from destroying it and saving his troops.

After the war, Cloutman became a lawyer before serving again in World War Two. In 1946, he became a King's Counsel and in 1947 he was appointed Senior Chairman of the War Pensions Tribunal. He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1957.

Gary Mabbutt said: “As a Club we are delighted to be marking the heroic actions of all four Victoria Cross recipients who lived in Haringey. During this time of Remembrance, it’s important for us to come together and reflect on the incredible courage displayed by those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.”

Councillor Gina Adamou, Haringey Mayor, said: “It is a privilege to be able to pay tribute to a true Haringey hero, Major Cloutman, 100 years since the end of the First World War. His bravery was marked with the Victoria Cross – the highest honour, and now we have a fitting tribute here in our borough. Over the last few months we have been marking the bravery of Haringey’s First World War heroes – their amazing courage will live on in our borough.”