Council plans to name a Warsop Road after a First World War hero who won the Victoria Cross

Sgt Robert Bye from Warsop, was awarded the VC on 31st July 1917 for his actions at the Yser Canal, Belgium.

Coun Hardy told the Chad:

“It would be wonderful to see this lasting tributel to be paid to Sgt Bye, which is long overdue.

“In Warsop, the place he called home for around 40 years, recognition is lacking, although there is a memorial in Mansfield Civic Centre.

”Since the inner relief road was opened in the late 70s it has never had a name, some people call it Church Street and others Mansfield Road.

“There are no properties on this stretch of road so it would not inconvience anyone.”

Consultations are currently under way with Mansfield District Council who are responsible for the renaming of roads and an update will be given to Parish Councillors at the September meeting

Sgt Bye was awarded the VC on 31st July 1917 for his actions at the Yser Canal, Belgium.

He showed courage and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy’s position in the third battle of Ypres, where he accounted for 70 of the enemy.

He was also awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government.

He saw that the advancement of his unit was being troubled by two enemy blockhouses and he rushed one of them and put the German garrison out of action, before returning to his unit.

He later volunteered to take charge of a party to clear up a line of blockhouses, taking a number of prisoners, before moving on to another operation, again capturing German prisoners.

Sgt Bye, who joined the Welsh Guards in 1915 and served in France and Flanders, was discharged from the Army in 1919.

Six months later he re-enlisted in the Notts and Derby Regiment until 1925 and then finally re-enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters during the Second World War.

He received the VC from King George V on 27th September 1917, and upon receiving the honour, he was reported to have said: “I am proud of the honour conferred upon me, but I only went out to France to do what millions of others are doing, my duty. In honouring me you are honouring my comrades out in France, for they all did well that day.”

Born in Wales, he came to live in Warsop in 1925 with his wife, Mabel, and they had two sons and two daughters.

He worked at Warsop and Welbeck collieries and was also a temporary constable at Mansfield.

He also took an active part in British Legion activities and served as a marshal for Remembrance Day parades during the 1930s.

His only surviving daughter, Mrs Mary Moody, who lives in Warsop recalled her father as a: “Straight talking man who did not suffer fools gladly. He was a popular and kind man and was very modest about his Victoria Cross. In fact, I can hardly ever remember hearing him speak about it.”

He died at his daughter’s home in Warsop in 1962 aged 72, and was buried in Warsop Cemetery with full military honours.

He is still proudly remembered by his old regiment where his VC and group of medals are on display at the Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks, London.

A painting of his actions was unveiled at the barracks in 1988 by his great-granddaughter Clare Armstrong and grandson Paul Bye, who has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as a member of the Welsh Guards.