Tom Dresser VC memorial
Tom Dresser was born on 21 July 1892. He was 24 years old, and a private in the 7th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Despite being twice seriously wounded when crossing 'no man's land' between the battalion headquarters and the front line, just outside Roeux in Northern France, Private Dresser delivered a vital message to his Commanding Officer in the trenches, a message which proved of great value to his battalion at a critical time in the battle of Arras.
Returning home to Middlesbrough after demobilisation at the end of World War One, Tom Dresser lived a modest life until his passing in 1982 at the age of 90, never talking about his heroic achievements or his military engagement, although he served in the Home Guard from 1939 to 1945 when war broke out again.
The unveiling of the Tom Dresser VC statue and centenary stone took place on Friday 12 May 2017 at the Dorman Museum. The funding for the statue was raised entirely by the Dresser family.
