LIEUTENANT Arthur Hugh Henry Batten-Pooll was in command of a raiding party near Colonne, France, when, on entering enemy line, he was severely wounded by a bomb which mutilated all the fingers on his right hand.

He continued to direct operations with unflinching courage during the attack on June 25, 1916.

And half an hour later, during the withdrawal, while rescuing other injured men, he received two further wounds.

He refused assistance and walked to within 100 yards of his own lines when he fainted and had to be carried in by the covering party.

He received the VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace on November 4, 1916.

Arthur, who was born in London 1891, the son of the future Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and High Sheriff, was educated at Eton and was commissioned into the 3rd Somerset Light Infantry.

He later joined the 5th (Irish) Lancers Special Reserve and transferred to the 3rd (Recerve) Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers.

He was attached to the 2nd Battalion in France and promoted to captain after his VC action.

After the war he travelled extensively to pursue his scientific interest in flora and fauna, as well as angling.

He never married and died at home in Ivybridge, Devon, in January 1971.