Pat Porteous WW2 Victoria Cross Dieppe Raid Military LTD TO 50 Hand Signed FDC

STB036  A vintage 40 years ago Peace In Europe anniversary FDC hand signed by Victoria Cross decorated WW2 hero Pat Porteous (see below) who has personally autographed the souvenir where his signature rests perfectly below the first day cover commemorative stamps and is in mint condition.  This was limited to only 50 published and signed for worldwide distribution and is numbered 14 from the series of 50 on reverse (see image 2).

Colonel Patrick Anthony "Pat" Porteous VC (1918–2000) was a highly decorated British Army officer who received the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for valour in the British Commonwealth. He earned the medal for his extraordinary heroism as a 24-year-old Captain during the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942.

During Operation Jubilee (the Dieppe Raid), Porteous was serving as a liaison officer with No. 4 Commando. Their specific objective was to destroy a heavy German coastal artillery battery.,  During the initial assault, Porteous was shot through the hand at close range. He disarmed his attacker and saved the life of a British sergeant by killing the enemy soldier with his bayonet. When the commander of the twin assault detachment was killed, Porteous dashed across open, heavily defended ground to take charge of the leaderless group.

He led a successful bayonet charge to capture the German guns. During the final moments, he was shot a second time through the thigh but continued directing the destruction of the battery before collapsing from blood loss. No. 4 Commando was the only unit to successfully capture its objective during the otherwise disastrous raid.

He passed away at the age of 82 on 9 October 2000. Shortly before his death, he represented all living VC holders at the London parade celebrating the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother