List of Second World War Victoria Cross recipients

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A balding man with a cigar in his mouth waves from a balcony to large crowds below him that fill the square.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill waves to crowds in London on Victory in Europe Day.

The

gazetted on 5 February 1856.[2] The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War.[3] The first awards ceremony was held on 26 June 1857, where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park.[4]

The Victoria Cross was awarded 182 times to 181 recipients for action in the

the deadliest conflict in human history.[5]

The start of the war is generally held to be 1 September 1939, with the German

Royal Marine. Aerial warfare came into its own in World War II with several distinct roles emerging. The role of fighter planes developed during the Battle of Britain, where the Royal Air Force fought for air superiority against the Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain was the first major campaign to be fought entirely by air forces. It was the largest and most sustained bombing campaign until that date. Initially, RAF airfields were attacked, however as the battle progressed, operations were extended to the strategic level with The Blitz. Britain also conducted controversial strategic bombing campaigns in Europe and Asia; they involved hundreds of aircraft dropping tens of thousands of tons of munitions over a single city. Tactical strikes were also carried out by the RAF including Operation Chastise, where No. 617 Squadron RAF attacked German dams in the Ruhr valley using "bouncing bombs"; Guy Gibson
was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

The war on the land did not begin until May 1940, as Britain and France were involved in a

Burma campaign. In Europe, the unsuccessful raid on Arnhem saw five soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross, four posthumously.[7] In May 1945, the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces, celebrated with VE Day. Actions after VE Day until the war in the Pacific was ended with the surrender of Japan on board USS Missouri on 2 September 1945.[8]
saw seven Commonwealth servicemen awarded the VC.

Charles Upham received the Victoria Cross and Bar; two awards for two acts. Upham was only the third recipient of the Victoria Cross and Bar, and the first for combatant actions; the previous two recipients were medical officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps.[9]

Of the 181 recipients 85 (46.96%) were awarded posthumously.

Recipients

  •   This along with a * indicates a posthumous award
Name Unit Date of action Place of action
Arthur Aaron No. 218
No. 218 Squadron RAF
 1943-08-1212 August 1943* Turin, Italy[A]
Michael Allmand 006
6th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-06-1111 June 1944
23 June 1944*
Burma
Charles Anderson 002.192/19th Battalion, AIF 1942-01-1818–22 January 1942 Muar, Malaya
Eric Anderson East Yorkshire Regiment 1943-04-066 April 1943* Battle of Wadi Akarit, Tunisia
John Anderson
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
 1943-04-2323 April 1943
Longstop Hill, Tunisia
Richard Annand Durham Light Infantry 1940-05-1515–16 May 1940
River Dyle, Belgium
Cyril Barton No. 578No. 578 Squadron RAF 1944-03-3030 March 1944* Nuremberg, Germany[A]
John Baskeyfield South Staffordshire Regiment 1944-09-2020 September 1944* Arnhem, the Netherlands
Sidney Bates Royal Norfolk Regiment 1944-08-066 August 1944*[C] Sourdeval, France
Ian Bazalgette
 No. 635No. 635 Squadron RAF 1944-08-044 August 1944* Trossy St. Maximin, France[A]
Stephen Beattie
 HMS Campbeltown 1942-03-2727 March 1942 St Nazaire, France
John Beeley King's Royal Rifle Corps 1941-11-2121 November 1941*
Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Premindra Bhagat
Corps of Indian Engineers
 1941-01-3131 January 1941 to
1 February 1941		 Gallabat, Abyssinia
Frank Blaker
 009
9th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-07-099 July 1944*
Burma
John Brunt
Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
 1944-12-099 December 1944* Faenza, Italy
Richard Burton
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment
 1944-10-088 October 1944 Monte Ceco, Italy
Robert Cain South Staffordshire Regiment 1944-09-1717–25 September 1944 Arnhem, the Netherlands
George Cairns South Staffordshire Regiment 1944-03-1313 March 1944*[C]
Burma
Donald Cameron
HMS X6
 1943-09-2222 September 1943 Kåfjord, Norway
John Campbell
 Royal Horse Artillery 1941-11-2121–23 November 1941
Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Kenneth Campbell
 No. 022No. 22 Squadron RAF 1941-04-066 April 1941* Brest, France[A]
Lorne Campbell
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
 1943-04-066 April 1943
Wadi Akarit, Tunisia
Edward Chapman Monmouthshire Regiment 1945-04-022 April 1945
Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany
Edward Charlton Irish Guards 1945-04-2121 April 1945* Wistedt, Germany
Leonard Cheshire No. 035No. 35 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron RAF		 1940-00-00June 1940–July 1944[D] Over Europe[A]
Albert Chowne 002.022/2nd Battalion, AIF 1945-03-2525 March 1945* Dagua, New Guinea
Aubrey Cosens Queen's Own Rifles of Canada 1945-02-2625–26 February 1945* Mooshof, Germany
John Cruickshank No. 210No. 210 Squadron RAF 1944-07-1717–18 July 1944 Atlantic Ocean[A]
Arthur Cumming Frontier Force Regiment 1942-01-033 January 1942 Kuantan, Malaya
David Currie South Alberta Regiment 1944-08-1818–20 August 1944
Battle of Falaise, France
Roden Cutler Royal Australian Artillery 1941-06-1919 June 1941 to
6 July 1941		 Merdjayoun-Damour, Lebanon
Tom Derrick 002.482/48th Battalion, AIF 1943-11-2424 November 1943 Sattelberg, New Guinea
Fazal Din 01010th Baluch Regiment 1945-03-022 March 1945*
Burma
Dennis Donnini Royal Scots Fusiliers 1945-01-1818 January 1945* Stein, (Selfkant) Germany
Thomas Durrant
Corps of Royal Engineers
 1942-03-2727 March 1942*[C] St Nazaire, France
George Eardley King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1944-10-1616 October 1944 Overloon, the Netherlands
John Edmondson
 002.172/17th Battalion, AIF 1941-04-1313–14 April 1941*[C] Tobruk, Libya
Hughie Edwards No. 105No. 105 Squadron RAF 1941-07-044 July 1941 Bremen, Germany[A]
Keith Elliott 02222nd Battalion, NZEF 1942-07-1515 July 1942 Ruweisat, Egypt
Harold Ervine-Andrews
 East Lancashire Regiment 1940-05-3131 May 1940 to
1 June 1940		 Dunkirk, France
Eugene Esmonde 825825 Naval Air Squadron 1942-02-1212 February 1942*
Straits of Dover, England[A]
Edward Fegen
HMS Jervis Bay
 1940-11-055 November 1940* Atlantic Ocean
Henry Foote
 0077th Royal Tank Regiment 1942-05-2727 May 1942 to
15 June 1942		 Libya
John Foote Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps 1942-08-1919 August 1942 Dieppe, France
Ian Fraser
HMS XE3
 1945-07-3131 July 1945
Johore Straits, Singapore
John French
 002.092/9th Battalion, AIF 1942-09-044 September 1942* Milne Bay, New Guinea
Christopher Furness Welsh Guards 1940-05-1717–24 May 1940* Arras, France
Philip Gardner 0044th Royal Tank Regiment 1941-11-2323 November 1941 Tobruk, Libya
Donald Garland
 No. 012No. 12 Squadron RAF 1940-05-1212 May 1940* Albert Canal, Belgium[A]
Yeshwant Ghadge Maratha Light Infantry 1944-07-1010 July 1944* Upper Tiber Valley, Italy
Gaje Ghale 005
5th Gurkha Rifles
 1943-05-2424 May 1943
Burma
Guy Gibson No. 617No. 617 Squadron RAF 1943-05-1616 May 1943[E] Möhne Dam, Germany[A]
James Gordon
 002.312/31st Battalion, AIF 1941-07-1010 July 1941 Djezzine, Syria
Thomas Gould HMS Thrasher 1942-02-1616 February 1942 Crete, Mediterranean Sea
Percival Gratwick
 002.482/48th Battalion, AIF 1942-10-2525–26 October 1942* Miteiriya Ridge, Egypt
Robert Gray (RCNVR) HMS Formidable 1945-08-099 August 1945*
Honshū, Japan[A]
Thomas Gray No. 012No. 12 Squadron RAF 1940-05-1212 May 1940* Albert Canal, Belgium[A]
John Grayburn
 Parachute Regiment 1944-09-1717–20 September 1944* Arnhem, the Netherlands
George Gristock Royal Norfolk Regiment 1940-05-2121 May 1940*[C]
River Escaut, Belgium
George Gunn 0033rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 1941-11-2121 November 1941*
Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Arthur Gurney
 002.482/48th Battalion, AIF 1942-07-2222 July 1942* El Alamein, Egypt
Bhanbhagta Gurung 002
2nd Gurkha Rifles
 1945-03-055 March 1945
Burma
Lachhiman Gurung 008
8th Gurkha Rifles
 1945-05-1212–13 May 1945
Burma
Thaman Gurung 008
5th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-11-1010 November 1944* Monte San Bartolo, Italy
Abdul Hafiz 009
9th Jat Infantry
 1944-04-066 April 1944* Imphal, India
Ali Haidar
 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945-04-099 April 1945 Fusignano, Italy
John Hannah No. 083No. 83 Squadron RAF 1940-09-1515 September 1940 Antwerp, Belgium[A]
Eric Harden Royal Army Medical Corps 1945-01-2323 January 1945* Brachterbeek, the Netherlands
John Harman
 Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1944-04-088–9 April 1944* Kohima, India
John Harper York and Lancaster Regiment 1944-09-2929 September 1944* Antwerp, Belgium
Jack Hinton 002
2nd Division, NZEF
 1941-04-2929 April 1941 Kalamai, Greece
Charles Hoey
Lincolnshire Regiment
 1944-02-1616 February 1944*
Burma
Stanley Hollis Green Howards 1944-06-066 June 1944 Normandy, France
David Hornell No. 162No. 162 Squadron RCAF 1944-06-2424 June 1944*
Faroes, Atlantic Ocean[A]
Alec Horwood
 Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1944-01-1818–20 January 1944*
Burma
Clive Hulme 002
2nd Division, NZEF
 1941-05-2020–28 May 1941 Crete, Greece
Thomas Hunter
 043
43 Commando
 1945-04-022 April 1945* Lake Comacchio, Italy
James Jackman Royal Northumberland Fusiliers 1941-11-2525 November 1941* Tobruk, Libya
Norman Jackson No. 106No. 106 Squadron RAF 1944-04-2626 April 1944 Schweinfurt, Germany[A]
Namdeo Jadav Maratha Light Infantry 1945-04-099 April 1945
Senio River, Italy
David Jamieson
 Royal Norfolk Regiment 1944-08-077–8 August 1944 Grimbosq, France
Francis Jefferson
 Lancashire Fusiliers 1944-05-1616 May 1944 Monte Cassino, Italy
Karamjeet Judge 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945-03-1818 March 1945*
Burma
Richard Kelliher 002.252/25th Battalion, AIF 1943-09-1313 September 1943 New Guinea
Edward Kenna 002.042/4th Battalion, AIF 1945-05-1515 May 1945 Wewak, New Guinea
John Kenneally
 Irish Guards 1943-04-2828 April 1943 Dj. Arada, Tunisia
Geoffrey Keyes
 No. 011No. 11 (Scottish) Commando 1941-11-1717–18 November 1941* Beda Littoria, Libya
William Kibby
 002.482/48th Battalion, AIF 1942-10-2323–31 October 1942* El Alamein, Egypt
Bruce Kingsbury 002.142/14th Battalion, AIF 1942-08-2929 August 1942
Isurava, New Guinea
George Knowland No. 001No. 1 Commando 1945-01-3131 January 1945*
Burma
Ganju Lama 007
7th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-06-1212 June 1944 Ningthoukhong, India
Anders Lassen Special Air Service 1945-04-088–9 April 1945* Lake Comacchio, Italy
Herbert Le Patourel
Hampshire Regiment
 1942-12-033 December 1942 Tebourba, Tunisia
Nigel Leakey
 King's African Rifles 1941-05-1919 May 1941*
Colito, Abyssinia
Roderick Learoyd
 No. 049No. 49 Squadron RAF 1940-08-1212 August 1940
Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany[A]
Ian Liddell Coldstream Guards 1945-04-033 April 1945
Lingen, Germany
John Linton
 HMS Pandora
HMS Turbulent		 1939-00-00September 1939 to
23 March 1943*[D]		 Mediterranean Sea
David Lord
 No. 271 Squadron RAF 1944-09-1919 September 1944* Arnhem, the Netherlands[A]
Charles Lyell Scots Guards 1943-04-2222–27 April 1943* Dj Bou Arada, Tunisia
John Mackey
 002.032/3rd Pioneer Battalion, AIF 1945-05-1212 May 1945*
Tarakan Island, Borneo
James Magennis
HMS XE3
 1945-07-3131 July 1945
Johore Straits, Singapore
John Mahony
Westminster Regiment
 1944-05-2424 May 1944
River Melfa, Italy
Hugh Malcolm
 No. 018No. 18 Squadron RAF 1942-12-044 December 1942* Chougui, Tunisia[A]
Leslie Manser
 No. 050No. 50 Squadron RAF 1942-05-3030 May 1942* Cologne, Germany[A]
Jack Mantle
 HMS Foylebank 1940-07-044 July 1940* Portland, England
Charles Merritt South Saskatchewan Regiment 1942-08-1919 August 1942 Dieppe, France
Ron Middleton (RAAF) No. 149No. 149 Squadron RAF 1942-11-2828 November 1942* Turin, Italy[A]
Anthony Miers HMS Torbay 1942-03-044–5 March 1942 Corfu, Greece
George Mitchell London Scottish 1944-01-2323–24 January 1944* Damiano Ridge, Italy
Andrew Mynarski No. 419
No. 419 Squadron RCAF
 1944-06-1212 June 1944* Cambrai, France[A]
John Nettleton No. 044No. 44 Squadron RAF 1942-04-1717 April 1942
Augsberg, Germany[A]
Augustus Newman
 Essex Regiment 1942-03-2828 March 1942 St Nazaire, France
William Newton
 No. 022No. 22 Squadron RAAF 1943-03-1616–18 March 1943*[D][F] New Guinea[A]
Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu 02828th Māori Battalion, NZEF 1943-03-2626–27 March 1943* Tebaga Gap, Tunisia
Harry Nicholls Grenadier Guards 1940-05-2121 May 1940
River Escaut, Belgium
Eric Nicolson
 No. 249No. 249 Squadron RAF 1940-08-1616 August 1940 Southampton, England[A]
Gerard Norton
Kaffrarian Rifles
, South African Army		 1944-08-3131 August 1944 Montegridolfo, Italy
John Osborn Winnipeg Grenadiers 1941-12-1919 December 1941* Mount Butler, Hong Kong
Robert Palmer
 No. 109No. 109 Squadron RAF 1944-12-2323 December 1944*[D] Cologne, Germany[A]
Frank Partridge
 0088th Battalion, Militia (Australia) 1945-07-2424 July 1945 Bougainville, New Guinea
Frederick Peters
HMS Walney
 1942-11-088 November 1942 Oran, Algeria
Basil Place
HMS X7
 1943-09-2222 September 1943 Kåfjord, Norway
Patrick Porteous
Royal Regiment of Artillery
 1942-08-1919 August 1942 Dieppe, France
Tul Pun 006
6th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-06-2323 June 1944
Burma
Lionel Queripel 010
10th Parachute Battalion
 1944-09-1919 September 1944* Arnhem, the Netherlands
Agansing Rai 005
5th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-06-2626 June 1944
Bishenpur, India
Bhandari Ram 01010th Baluch Regiment 1944-11-2222 November 1944
Burma
Chhelu Ram 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1943-04-1919–20 April 1943* Djebel Garci, Tunisia
Kamal Ram 0088th Punjab Regiment 1944-05-1212 May 1944 River Gari, Italy
Richhpal Ram 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1941-02-077–8 February 1941 Keren, Eritrea
John Randle
 Royal Norfolk Regiment 1944-05-044–6 May 1944* Kohima, India
Reginald Rattey
 002.2525th Battalion, Militia (Australia) 1945-03-2222 March 1945 Bougainville, Solomon Islands
Claud Raymond
Corps of Royal Engineers
 1945-03-2121 March 1945*[C]
Burma
William Reid No. 061No. 61 Squadron RAF 1943-11-033 November 1943 Düsseldorf, Germany[A]
Peter Roberts HMS Thrasher 1942-02-1616 February 1942 Crete, Mediterranean Sea
Maurice Rogers
 Wiltshire Regiment 1944-06-033 June 1944 Anzio, Italy
Gerard Roope HMS Glowworm 1940-04-088 April 1940 Norwegian Sea, off Trondheim
Robert Ryder HMS Campbeltown 1942-03-2828 March 1942 St Nazaire, France
Willward Sandys-Clarke Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) 1943-04-2323 April 1943* Guiriat El Atach, Tunisia
William Savage HM Motor Gun Boat
HM Motor Gun Boat
 1942-03-2828 March 1942* St Nazaire, France
Arthur Scarf
 No. 062No. 62 Squadron RAF 1941-12-099 December 1941*
Singora, Malaya[A]
Derek Seagrim Green Howards 1943-03-2020–21 March 1943 Mareth Line, Tunisia
Alfred Sephton HMS Coventry 1941-05-1818 May 1941*[C] Crete, Mediterranean Sea
Sher Shah
 01616th Punjab Regiment 1945-01-1919–20 January 1945*
Burma
Robert Sherbrooke
 HMS Onslow 1942-12-3131 December 1942
North Cape, Norway
William Sidney Grenadier Guards 1944-02-088–9 February 1944 Anzio, Italy
Gian Singh 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945-03-022 March 1945
Burma
Nand Singh Sikh Regiment 1944-03-1111–12 March 1944
Burma
Parkash Singh 0088th Punjab Regiment 1943-01-066 January 1943
Burma
Prakash Singh Chib 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945-02-1616–17 February 1945*
Burma
Ram Singh 0011st Punjab Regiment 1944-10-2525 October 1944*
Burma
Umrao Singh Royal Indian Artillery 1944-12-1515–16 December 1944
Burma
Ernest Smith Seaforth Highlanders of Canada 1944-10-2121–22 October 1944
River Savio, Italy
Quentin Smythe
Royal Natal Carabineers
, South African Army		 1942-06-055 June 1942 Alem Hamza, Egypt
Richard Stannard HMT Arab 1940-04-2828 April 1940 to
2 May 1940		 Namsos, Norway
Leslie Starcevich
 002.432/43rd Battalion, AIF 1945-06-2828 June 1945
Beaufort, Borneo
James Stokes King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1945-03-011 March 1945* Kervenheim, Germany
Sefanaia Sukanaivalu Fiji Infantry Regiment 1944-06-2323 June 1944* Bougainville, Solomon Islands
Edwin Swales (SAAF
)		 No. 582No. 582 Squadron RAF 1945-02-2323 February 1945* Pforzheim, Germany[A]
Lalbahadur Thapa 002
2nd Gurkha Rifles
 1943-04-055–6 April 1943 Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
Netrabahadur Thapa 005
5th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-06-2525–26 June 1944
Bishenpur, India
Sher Thapa 009
9th Gurkha Rifles
 1944-09-1818–19 September 1944* San Marino, Italy
George Thompson No. 009No. 9 Squadron RAF 1945-01-011 January 1945*[C]
Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany[A]
Frederick Tilston Essex Scottish Regiment 1945-03-011 March 1945 Uedem, Germany
Frederick Topham 0011st Canadian Parachute Battalion 1945-03-2424 March 1945 Rhine, Germany
Leonard Trent
 No. 487No. 487 Squadron RNZAF 1943-05-033 May 1943 Amsterdam, the Netherlands[A]
Lloyd Trigg (RNZAF
)		 No. 200No. 200 Squadron RAF 1943-08-1111 August 1943* Atlantic Ocean[A]
Paul Triquet
Royal 22e Régiment
 1943-12-1414 December 1943
Casa Berardi, Italy
Hanson Turner
West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)
 1944-06-066–7 June 1944* Ningthoukhong, India
Victor Turner
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
 1942-10-2727 October 1942 El Alamein, Egypt
Charles Upham 002
2nd Division, NZEF
 1941-05-2222–30 May 1941
14–15 July 1942[B]		 Crete, Greece
El Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt
Richard Wakeford
Hampshire Regiment
 1944-05-1313 May 1944 Cassino, Italy
Adam Wakenshaw
 Durham Light Infantry 1942-06-2727 June 1942* Mersa Matruh, Egypt
Malcolm Wanklyn
 HMS Upholder 1941-05-2424 May 1941 Sicily, Mediterranean Sea
Bernard Warburton-Lee HMS Hardy 1940-04-1010 April 1940* Ofotfjord, Norway
James Ward RNZAF No. 075No. 75 Squadron RAF 1941-07-077 July 1941 Munster, Germany[A]
Tasker Watkins Welch Regiment 1944-08-1616 August 1944 Barfour, France
Basil Weston Green Howards 1945-03-033 March 1945*
Burma
Thomas Wilkinson
 HMS Li Wo 1942-02-1414 February 1942* Java Sea, Malaya
Eric Wilson East Surrey Regiment 1940-08-1111–15 August 1940 Observation Hill, Somaliland
Peter Wright Coldstream Guards 1943-09-2525 September 1943 Salerno, Italy

Notes

  • A ^ Victoria Cross was awarded for actions during air combat.
  • B ^ This was a Bar to the Victoria Cross
  • C ^ Recipient died of their wounds
  • D ^ Recipient awarded the Victoria Cross for an extended period of sustained courage and outstanding leadership, rather than a single act of valour.
  • E ^ Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross primarily for the raid, but also for leadership and valour demonstrated as master bomber on many previous sorties.
  • F ^ Newton was captured by Japanese Forces and beheaded 11 days later.[10]
  • G  Sergeant H.V. Turner, Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa, Naik Agansing Rai and Rifleman Ganju Lama won their VCs in combat in the state of Manipur in India but the citations wrongly referred to the locations as being in Burma. These errors have been rectified in the list above.

References

General
  • ISBN 978-0-330-49133-4
    .
  • ISBN 0-7553-1632-0
    .
  • Crook, M. J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas Books.
    ISBN 0-85936-041-5
    .
  • "Victoria Cross Registers". The National Archives. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
Specific
  1. ^ Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII
  2. ^ The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
    "No. 21846". The London Gazette. 5 February 1856. pp. 410–411.
  3. ^ Ashcroft, Michael; pp. 7–10
  4. ^ Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
  5. ^ Ashcroft, Michael; p. 255
  6. ^ Arthur, Max; pp. 419–422
  7. ^ Arthur, Max; pp. 497–501
  8. ^ Aschcroft, Michael; pp. 255–256
  9. ^ Ashcroft, Michael; p. 259
  10. ^ Arthur, Max; p. 38

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