Reginald Judson

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Reginald Judson
New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service
  • 1915–1937
  • 1939–1946
RankMajor
Unit
  • Guards Vital Points Battalion
    • Battles/wars
    Awards

    Reginald Stanley Judson,

    First World War
    .

    Born in Wharehine, Judson was a boiler maker when he enlisted in the

    Mangonui in Northland. He died in Auckland
    in 1972, at the age of 90.

    Early life

    Reginald Stanley Judson was born into a farming family at Wharehine, north of

    Ponsonby. In 1905 he married Ethel Grice and the union resulted in four children.[2]

    First World War

    Judson enlisted in the

    Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916, where he was seriously wounded. He was evacuated to England and spent several months recovering from his injuries. Once his health permitted, he performed training duties and then spent a period of time in charge of a Royal Engineers depot in Codford.[2]

    In June 1918, Judson, now a

    Hebuterne. For this action, he was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). On 16 August, he was at the forefront of a bayonet charge at Bucquoy that earned him the Military Medal (MM).[3]

    Ten days later, Judson participated in the

    London Gazette as the citation for his DCM.[3]
    His VC citation read as follows:

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, in an attack on enemy positions, he led a small bombing party under heavy fire and captured an enemy machine-gun. He then proceeded up the sap alone, bombing three machine-gun crews before him. Jumping out of the trench he ran ahead of the enemy. Then, standing on the parapet, he ordered the party, consisting of two officers and about ten men, to surrender. They instantly fired on him, but he threw a bomb and jumped down amongst them, killed two, and put the rest to flight, and so captured two machine-guns. This prompt and gallant action not only saved many lives, but also enabled the advance to be continued unopposed.

    — The London Gazette, No. 30982, 30 October 1918[4]

    In September, Judson was a victim of a gas attack and returned to England to recover his health.[5] He then attended an officer training school, first at Cambridge and then at Aldershot. By this time the war had ended and it was not until February 1919 that Judson was commissioned as a second lieutenant.[6]

    Interwar period

    Before departing England, Judson, along with three other New Zealanders who had been awarded the VC,

    King George V in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 27 February 1919.[7] After an extended stay in hospital, he left for New Zealand in June 1919.[6]

    Discharged from the NZEF in October 1919 and having decided on a career as a professional soldier, Judson joined the New Zealand Staff Corps. He served in posts in Auckland and then New Plymouth, where he was the area officer.[6] Due to his war wounds (eight fragments of shrapnel remained in his chest and abdomen) and the aftereffects of his gassing, his health was fragile, and he had two periods of extended sick leave in 1924 and 1934. Despite being regarded as a reliable and conscientious officer, promotion opportunities in the postwar Staff Corps were limited, and when he retired in 1937, it was with the rank of captain.[3]

    Judson's marriage to Ethel had ended in divorce in 1920. Eight years later he married Kate Lewis, a war widow, and had a fifth child.

    Auckland East electorate by the National Party for the 1938 election, but Harry Merritt was chosen instead.[8]

    Later life

    Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Judson volunteered for military service. To be eligible, he deceived the authorities about his age.[1] He served on the home front for the duration of the war, commanding the Guards Vital Points Battalion in Auckland. He retired from the military in September 1946 with the rank of major.[3]

    Judson moved to

    Italian Campaign.[1][9]

    Medal

    Judson's Victoria Cross was displayed at the

    Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.[10]

    Notes

    Footnotes

    1. Harry Laurent and John Grant.[7]

    Citations

    1. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Richard J. "Judson, Reginald Stanley". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
    2. ^ a b c Gliddon 2014, p. 118.
    3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper & Richardson 2007, pp. 165–169.
    4. ^ "No. 30982". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1918. p. 12802.
    5. ^ McGibbon 2000, p. 261.
    6. ^ a b c Gliddon 2014, p. 120.
    7. ^ a b "Four Victoria Cross Men". New Zealand Herald. 8 April 1919. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
    8. ^ Gustafson 1986, pp. 26, 28.
    9. ^ Burdon 1953, pp. 217–218.
    10. ^ "Medals stolen from Waiouru Army Museum recovered". New Zealand Herald. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2018.

    References

    External links
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