Donald John Dean

Colonel Donald John Dean VC OBE TD DL (19 April 1897 – 9 December 1985) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Donald John Dean was born on 19 April 1897 in Herne Hill, South London, to John H and Grace Dean. He was educated at Quernmore College.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Dean attempted to enlist but was rejected because he was under-age. He was able to become a special constable and also joined the Volunteer Training Corps, a part-time home defence force. When he turned 18 in April 1915, he attempted to enlist again at his local Territorial Force depot, this time successfully. Dean served as a private with the 28th London (Artists Rifles) Regiment in the Ypres Salient and during the Battle of the Somme. In October 1916 he was commissioned into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and fought at Vimy Ridge and around Givenchy.

He was 21 years old, and a temporary lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, when the following action took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

During the period 24 September – 26 September 1918, north-west of Lens, France, Lieutenant Dean with his platoon held an advance post established in a newly captured enemy trench. The post was ill-prepared for defence and the lieutenant worked unceasingly with his men consolidating the position, under very heavy fire. Five times in all the post was attacked and on each occasion the attack was repulsed. Throughout the whole of this time Lieutenant Dean inspired his command with his own contempt of danger and set the highest example of valour, leadership and devotion to duty.

On 15 February 1919, Dean was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace and was given a civic reception in his home town of Sittingbourne.

Following the war, Dean took up part-time soldiering with the Territorial Army, being appointed captain in the 4th Battalion, Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) in July 1921. He became a major in 1930 and took command of the battalion in 1936 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After mobilisation in 1939, Dean was informed by his divisional commander, Major General Edmund Osborne, that he was to be replaced by a regular officer as Osborne believed that Territorial officers were not efficient enough to command a battalion. Although bitterly disappointed, Dean agreed to accept the post of Group Commander of No. 5 Group, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, despite never having heard of either the appointment or the corps. He arrived at the group's depot at Butlin's Clacton holiday camp in Essex in October 1939. Dean was the youngest officer in the group, and although there were some experienced reservists amongst the other ranks, the majority had volunteered to escape unemployment or were conscripts who had been graded as unfit for any other military duty.