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George Henry Prowse was born on 29th August 1886 at Gilfach Goch, Llantrisant. Employed as a collier, he worked both at Grovesend Colliery and Mountain Colliery in the Gorseinon district of Swansea. For a period of time, he relocated to Camerton in Somerset. On 8th November 1913, he married Sarah Lewis at Swansea Registry Office. They were living at Pentre Treharne Road, Landore, when he enrolled on 26th February 1915 as an Ordinary Seaman (WZ/424) in the Royal Naval Division. His date of birth is incorrectly recorded as 28th August 1896 on his service record.
George was promoted to Able Seaman on 5th May. Drafted to the 2nd Reserve Battalion the following month, he was promoted to Petty Officer two days later on 20th June. On 21st September, he was drafted to the Drake Battalion, but was evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula to Malta on 12th October, as he was suffering from jaundice. He was discharged from the RN Hospital at Corradino in mid-November, having been diagnosed with gastroenteritis, and rejoined his unit in Egypt on 9th January 1916.
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After arriving with Drake in France, George received a gunshot wound to his left thigh during the Battle of the Ancre and was evacuated back to England. On 17th November, he was admitted to Horton County of London War Hospital, where the wound was assessed as severe. He rejoined his unit on 28th March and received another gunshot wound during the Second Battle of the Scarpe, this time to his left shoulder. Evacuated again, he was admitted to Sheffield's Wharncliffe War Hospital on 28th April, where the wound was assessed as slight. During his recovery, he was transferred to the Command Depot. He received his first Good Conduct Badge on 25th February 1918.
George rejoined his unit on 8th April and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer on the 28th. During the Hundred Days Offensive, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the citation reading:
| On 21st August, 1918, at Logeast Wood, he led his men with great gallantry against a machine gun that was holding up the advance of the flank of his company, and in spite of difficulties of heavy mist he captured it, disposing of the crew. On a subsequent occasion he held a position against repeated counter attacks which were supported by an intense bombardment for twenty-four hours. His courage, leadership, and cheerful disposition had an invaluable effect on his men. |
Following the action of September 2nd, George wrote to his wife telling her that he had been recommended for the Victoria Cross, although he doubted that he would receive the award. George was killed on September 27th, before Sarah received his final letter. His VC was awarded posthumously, and it was presented to his widow at Buckingham Palace on 17th July 1919. His was the last VC to be presented with a blue naval ribbon.
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George's body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial at Haucourt. He is named on the war memorials at St Peters Church, Camerton, Somerset, and Mumbles Road, Swansea. In Gilfach Goch, a blue plaque has been placed on the house where he was born in High Street, and there is a Victoria Cross Paving Stone in the Community Council Grounds. There is another Victoria Cross Paving Stone at the war memorial in Richmond-upon-Thames. He is also named on the Victoria Cross Memorial at the Barrie Military Heritage Park in Ontario, Canada.
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