A soldier with the Royal Irish Fusiliers during the First World War, he was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions on 1 July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.

[1] Sent to the French sector of the Western Front in October 1915, Cather was soon promoted to lieutenant and became adjutant of the battalion.

On 1 July 1916, the opening day of the battle, Cather's battalion was tasked with capturing Beaucourt Station, near Beaumont-Hamel.

Next morning at 8 a.m. he continued his search, brought in another wounded man, and gave water to others, arranging for their rescue later.

[1] King George V presented Cather's VC to his mother on 31 March 1917, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

His VC and other medals were later donated by his brother to the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum in Armagh, Northern Ireland.