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Leeds' VC hero: Arthur Aaron |
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| The
statue to Arthur Aaron |
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Arthur
Aaron was the only WWII serviceman from Leeds to be awarded the Victoria
Cross.
In 2000 the people of the city voted to commemorate him with a millennium
statue. |
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The Victoria
Cross is Britain's highest award for gallantry. The inscription on
the medal simply reads 'For Valour'.
Born and educated in Leeds, Aaron studied to be an architect and in
March 1941, Aaron became one of 23 cadets who formed the Inaugural
Flight of Leeds University Air Squadron.
He
was awarded his pilot's wings in June 1942 and then took part in
a number of military operations.
His
20th operational flight against Turin led to his death.
It
is unsure how Aaron's plane was hit, but it Aaron was mortally wounded
and his navigator was killed. The plane was seriously damaged and
the rest of the crew flew the aircraft for five hours to land in
Algeria.
The
exertion of trying to land the aircraft drained his energy, and
nine hours after landing, Aaron died of his injuries in the station
hospital on Friday 13 August 1943.
He
was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished
Flying Medal.
The
millennium statue can
be seen on the Eastgate Roundabout, in front of the West Yorkshire
Playhouse.
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