Career
Poulter was 24 years old, and a private in the 1/4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington"s (West Riding) Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Venture capital. On 10 April 1918 at Erquinghem-Lys, France, Private Poulter, who was acting as a stretcher-bearer, on 10 occasions carried badly wounded men on his back through particularly heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Two of the wounded were hit a second time whilst on his back. Again, after a withdrawal over the river had been ordered, Private Poulter returned in full view of the enemy and carried back another man who had been left behind wounded.
He bandaged 40 men under fire and was seriously wounded when attempting another rescue in the face of the enemy.
Before the war he was employed as a Drayman at the Timothy Taylor Brewery, Leeds. The Town of Erquinghem-Lys, France has erected a memorial to Pte Poulter, next to the railway line.
In 2005 the keys to the town were presented to the Duke of Wellington"s Regiment (West Riding).