All The Victoria Crosses of World War Two

Leslie Thomas Starcevich

Rank: Private

Unit: 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces

Awarded: 27th May 1947

Nationality: Australian

The citation in the London Gazette of 6th November 1945 gives the following details:

For most conspicuous gallantry and extreme devotion to duty at Beaufort, North
Borneo, 28th June, 1945.

Private L. Starcevich was a member of the 2nd /43rd Australian Infantry Battalion during the capture of Beaufort, North Borneo. During the approach along a thickly wooded spur, the enemy was encountered at a position where movement off the single track leading into the enemy defences was difficult and hazardous.

When the leading section came under fire from two enemy machine gun posts and suffered casualties, Private Starcevich, who was Bren gunner, moved forward and assaulted each post in turn. He rushed each post, firing his Bren gun from the hip, killed five enemy and put the remaining occupants of the posts to flight.

The advance progressed until the section came under fire from two more machine gun posts which halted the section temporarily. Private Starcevich again advanced fearlessly firing his Bren gun from the hip and ignoring the hostile fire captured both posts singlehanded, disposing of seven enemy in this assault.

These daring efforts enabled the Company to increase the momentum of its attack and so relieve pressure on another Company which was attacking from another direction.

The outstanding gallantry of Private Starcevich in carrying out these attacks singlehanded with complete disregard of his own personal safety resulted in the decisive success of the action.


Additional Infomation:

Starcevich grew up in Grass Patch, Western Australia and returned there after the war.

He has a hospital ward named after him in Hollywood, Australia.

Starcevichs' great nephew Liam joined A Squadron, 10th Light Horse in 2009 keeping the family military traditions alive.




Esperance Public Lawn Cemetery, Western Australia, Australia

 

Frank John Partridge

Rank: Private

Unit: 8th Australian Infantry Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Forces

Awarded: 13th April 1946

Nationality: Australian

The citation in the London Gazette of 18th January 1946 gives the following details:

In New Guinea, on 24th July, 1945, two fighting patrols, 8th Australian Infantry Battalion, were given the task of eliminating an enemy outpost in Bougainville which denied any forward movement to our troops.

The preliminary artillery concentration caused the enemy bunkers to be screened by a litter of felled banana plants, and from these well concealed positions to their front and left, one of our Platoons came under extremely fierce machine-gun, grenade and rifle fire.

The forward section at once suffered casualties and was pinned down together with two other sections.

Private Partridge was a rifleman in a section which, in carrying out an encircling movement, immediately came under heavy medium machine-gun fire. He was hit twice in the left arm and again in the left thigh, whilst the Bren gunner was killed and two others seriously wounded, leaving only the section leader unwounded, but another soldier began to move up from another position. Private Partridge quickly appreciated the extreme gravity of the situation and decided that the only possible solution was personal action by himself.

Despite wounds and with complete disregard to his own safety, Private Partridge rushed forward under a terrific burst of enemy fire and retrieved-the Bren gun from alongside the dead gunner when he challenged the enemy to come out and fight. He handed the Bren gun to the newly arrived man to provide covering fire while he rushed this bunker, into which he threw a grenade and silenced the medium machine-gun. Under cover of the grenade burst, he dived into the bunker and, in a fierce hand-to-hand fight, he killed the only living occupant with his knife.

Private Partridge then cleared the enemy dead from the entrance to the bunker and attacked another bunker in the rear; but weakness from loss of blood compelled him to halt, when he shouted to his section commander that he was unable to continue.

With the way clear by the silencing of the enemy medium machine-gun by Private Partridge, the Platoon moved forward and established a defence perimeter in the vicinity of the spot where Private Partridge, lay wounded.

Heavy enemy medium machine-gun and rifle fire both direct and enfilade from other bunkers soon created an untenable situation for the Platoon, which withdrew under its own covering fire.

Despite his wounds and weakness due to loss of blood, Private Partridge joined in this fight and remained in action until the Platoon had withdrawn after recovering their casualties.

The information gained by both patrols, and particularly from Private Partridge, enabled an attack to be mounted later. This led to the capture of a vital position sited on strong defensive ground and strengthened by 43 bunkers and other dug in positions from which the enemy fled in panic.

The serious situation during the fight of the two patrols was retrieved only by the outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Private Partridge, which inspired his comrades to heroic action, leading to a successful .withdrawal which saved the small force from complete annihilation. The subsequent successful capture of the position was due entirely to the incentive derived by his comrades from the outstanding heroism and fortitude displayed by Private Partridge.


Additional Infomation:

Born in New South Wales, Australia Partridge left school at the age of 13 to work on the family farm.

At the end of 1942 Partridge was conscripted into the Australian Army.

Discharged from the Army in 1946 he returned to the dirt floor farm run by his father.

In his spare time he read Encyclopaedia Britannica by lamp light as a means of self education.

Between 1962 and 1963 he appeared on an Australian TV quiz show winning all the prizes.

In 1963 Partridge attempted to move into politics but he's views were considered to extreme and he was not elected.

In 1964 Partridge was killed in a car crash and left a wife and 3 month old son.

He was buried with full military honours.

In 1989 he had a primary school named after him.



Macksville Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia

 

Ian Edward Fraser

Rank: Lieutenant

Unit: XE-3 (Midget Submarine), Royal Naval Reserve

Awarded: 11th December 1945

Nationality: British

The citation in the London Gazette of 18th January 1946 gives the following details:

Lieutenant Fraser commanded His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 in a successful attack on a Japanese heavy cruiser of the Atago class at her moorings in Johore Strait, Singapore, on 31st July, 1945. During the long approach up the Singapore Straits XE-3 deliberately left the believed safe channel and entered mined waters to avoid suspected hydrophone posts. The target was aground, or nearly aground, both fore and aft, and only under the midship portion was there just sufficient water for XE-3 to place herself under the cruiser. For forty minutes XE-3 pushed her way along the seabed until finally Lieutenant Fraser managed to force her right under the centre of the cruiser. Here he placed the limpets and dropped his main side charge. Great difficulty was experienced in extricating the craft after the attack had been completed, but finally XE-3 was clear, and commenced her long return journey out to sea. The courage and determination of Lieutenant Fraser are beyond all praise. Any man not possessed of his relentless determination to achieve his object in full, regardless of all consequences, would have dropped his side charge alongside the target instead of persisting until he had forced his submarine right under the cruiser. The approach and withdrawal entailed a passage of 80 miles through water which had been mined by both the enemy and ourselves, past hydrophone positions, over loops and controlled minefields, and through an anti-submarine boom.


Additional Infomation:

Also awarded DSC, RD and Bar and JP.

Fraser was born in Ealing, London.

Initially working in the Merchant Navy Fraser progressed into the Royal Naval Reserve before joining the Royal Navy.

After the war Fraser set up his own commercial Diving Organistaion.

One of his first underwater jobs was with the police to recover the body of a little girl who had drowned in a pond in Denton, Greater Manchester.

Fraser retired from the Royal Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant-Commander in 1965.


Landican Cemetery & Crematorium, Birkenhead, Merseyside. Cremated unknown location of the ashes.

 

Magennis and Fraser on their way home from Australia, 1945



James Joseph Magennis

Rank: Temporary Acting Leading Seaman

Unit: XE-3 (Midget Submarine), Royal Naval

Awarded: 11th December 1945

Nationality: British

The citation in the London Gazette of 18th January 1946 gives the following details:

Leading Seaman Magennis served as Diver in His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 for her attack on 31st July, 1945, on a Japanese cruiser of the Atago class. Owing to the fact that XE-3 was tightly jammed under the target the diver's hatch could not be fully opened, and Magennis had to squeeze himself through the narrow space available.

He experienced great difficulty in placing his limpets on the bottom of the cruiser owing both to the foul state of the bottom and to the pronounced slope upon which the limpets would not hold. Before a limpet could be placed therefore Magennis had thoroughly to scrape the area clear of barnacles, and in order to secure the limpets he had to tie them in pair’s by a line passing under the cruiser keel. This was very tiring work for a diver, and he was moreover handicapped by a steady leakage of oxygen which was ascending in bubbles to the surface. A lesser man would have been content to place a few limpets and then to return to the craft. Magennis, however, persisted until he had placed his full outfit before returning to the craft in an exhausted condition. Shortly after withdrawing Lieutenant Fraser endeavoured to jettison his limpet carriers, but one of these would not release itself and fall clear of the craft. Despite his exhaustion, his oxygen leak and the fact that there was every probability of -his being sighted, Magennis at once volunteered to leave the craft and free the carrier rather than allow a less experienced diver to undertake the job. After seven minutes of nerve racking work he succeeded in releasing the carrier. Magennis displayed very great courage and devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety.


Additional Infomation:

McGinnes was from a working class Roman Catholic family born in Belfast

In 1935 he joinedthe Royal Navy as a boy seaman adopting the surname Magennis.

At the end of 1942 Magennis was drafted into the Submarine Service.

In March 1943 Magennis volunteered for special and hazardous duties which brought him into contact with X-Craft for the first time.

After training as a diver, in 1943 Magennis took part in the first major use of the X-craft when two midget submaries disabled the Tirpitz in a Norwegian Fjord.

Magennis was the only person from Northern Ireland to win a VC during WW2.

In 1949 Magennis left the Royal Navy and returned to Belfast, where, at some point, he sold his Victoria Cross.

Magennis moved to West Yorkshire in 1955 to pursue a career as an Electrician.

Belfast City Council erected a memorial to Magennis in 1999 which was attended by Ian Fraser, Magennis's former CO who said of him, 'Jim gave me bother from time to time. He liked his tot of rum, but he was a lovely man and a fine diver. I have never met a braver man. It was a privilege to know him and it's wonderful to see Belfast honour him at last'.

In 1986 Lord Ashcroft purchased Magennis's VC for £29,000 which was his first purchase of the 142 now owned by him as of 2006.

In 2008 Lord Ashcroft announced a donation of £5 million for a permanent gallery at the Imperial War Museum, where the Victoria Crosses already held by the museum will be put on display alongside his own.


Magennis Memorial in Belfast


Shepley Nad Wood Crematorium, West Yorkshire. Ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance above.

 

Robert Hampton Gray

Rank: Lieutenant

Unit: No.1841 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Awarded: 1st February 1946

Nationality: Canadian



The citation in the London Gazette of 18th January 1946 gives the following details:
For great valour in leading an attack on a Japanese destroyer in Onagawa Wan on 9th August, 1945. In the face of fire from shore batteries and a heavy concentration of fire from some five warships Lieutenant Gray pressed home his attack, flying very low in order to ensure success, and, although he was hit and his aircraft was in flames, he obtained at least one direct hit, sinking the destroyer. Lieutenant Gray has consistently shown a brilliant fighting spirit and most inspiring leadership.


Additional Infomation:

Also awarded a DSC.

Born in British Columbia and after finishing his university education he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Known as Hammy to his friends, Gray qualified as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm in 1941.

Gray first saw action in Africa flying Hurricanes for two years and then later took part in several aerial attacks on the Tirpitz.

A memorial to Gray exists at Onagawa Wan, Japan. The location is metres away from where his plane crashed; this is the only memorial dedicated to a foreign soldier on Japanese soil.

Has no known grave.

CWGC :: Certificate





Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia

 

Thanks Di,

Look at the start and finish times on the thread...It took me four hours and my wrist still hurts!

I've still got a bit more to do as you will see on the first few citations, I'm adding photo's and CWGC links to those that received theirs posthumously.

Regards
Andy

 

Thanks Di,

Look at the start and finish times on the thread...It took me four hours and my wrist still hurts!

I've still got a bit more to do as you will see on the first few citations, I'm adding photo's and CWGC links to those that received theirs posthumously.

Regards
Andy

I was just about to say can't you sleep? Is there something we should know:p Otherwise nice work Andy.

Cheers - Rob

 

Ok the first appeal for help with a couple of tough ones too.

X Ref Post #2. A picture of Gerard Roope's name. Panel 36, Column 3. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, UK Many Thanks to England Phil

X Ref Post #3. A picture of Bernard Warburton-Lee's name. British Plot IV. B. 9. Ballangen New Cemetery, Norway. Found on Find a Grave.

X Ref Post #8. A picture of Harold Marcus Ervine-Andrews Headstone. Glynn Valley Crematorium, Bodmin, Cornwall, UK.

X Ref Post #12. A picture of Eric Charles Twelves Wilson Headstone. St Peter & St Paul Churchyard, Stowell, Near Sherbourne, Somerset, UK.

X Ref Post #13. A picture of Roderick Alistair Brook Learoyd Headstone. Worthing Crematorium, West Sussex, UK.

X Ref Post #14. A picture of Richard Been Stannard Headstone. Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney, Australia.

X Ref Post #15. A picture of James Brindley Nicolson's name. Column 445 in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Many thanks to Spidge

X Ref Post #17. A picture of Edward Fegen's name. Panel 34, Column 1. Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, UK. Many thanks to Cash_13

X Ref Post #18. Premindra Singh Bhagat was cremated at Cremated at Keoratola, India. Is there a memorial?

X Ref Post #19. A picture of Richhpal Ram and one of his name. Column 5. Keren Cremation Memorial, Eritrea, East Africa. Picture found

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many thanks for any help.
Andy

 

X Ref Post #23. A picture of Nigel Gray Leakey's name. Column 37, East Africa Memorial, Kenya.

X Ref Post #26. A picture of Malcolm David Wanklyn. Panel 61 Column 3. Portsmouth Naval Memorial, UK. Many Thanks to England Phil

X Ref Post #27. A picture of Sir Roden Cutler's Headstone. South Head Cemetery, Vaucluse, Sydney, Australia.

X Ref Post #28. A picture of Hughie Idwal Edwards Headstone. Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Australia. Many thanks to Recce Mitch.

X Ref Post #29. A picture of James Allen Wards Headstone. 5A. A1. 9. Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.

X Ref Post #30. A picture of James Heather Gordons Headstone. Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Australia. Many thanks to Recce Mitch.

X Ref Post #31. A picture of Alfred Edward Sephton and one of his name on Panel 46, Column 2. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Many Thanks to England Phil

X Ref Post #33. A picture of George Ward Gunn's headstone. 4. F. 1. Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. Many thanks to Kuno

X Ref Post #34. A picture of John Beeley's headstone. 10. E. 4. Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. Many thanks to Kuno

X Ref Post #37. A picture of James Joseph Bernard Jackman's headstone. 7. H. 9. Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya. Many thanks to Kuno

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many Thanks in Advance
Andy

 

X Ref Post #40. A picture of Arthur Edward Cumming's Headstone. Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh, Scotland. Many thanks to China Hand for the leads/help/pictures and info.

X Ref Post #41. A picture of Charles Grove Wright Anderson Headstone. Norwood Crematorium, Canberra, Australia. Found on Find a Grave

Ref Post #43. A picture of Thomas Wilkinson. Many thanks to EnglandPhil for the picture.

X Ref Post #44. A picture of Robert Edward Dudley Ryder's Headstone. Headington Crematorium, Oxford, UK. Found

X Ref Post #46. A picture of William Alfred Savage's Headstone. Sec. K. Row C. Grave 15. Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall, UK Found

X Ref Post #47. A picture of Augustus Charles Newman's Headstone. Barham Crematorium, Barham, Kent, UK. No known Plaque after cremation. Many thanks to Dovermarine.

X Ref Post #49. A picture of John Dering Nettleton name. Panel 118. Runnymede Memorial, UK. Many thanks to Peter Clare

Ref Post #50. A picture of Henry Robert Bowreman Foote. Many thanks to EnglandPhil for the picture.

X Ref Post #53. A picture of Thomas William Gould Headstone. Peterborough Crematorium, North Bretton, Peterborough, UK.

X Ref Post #54. A picture of Quentin George Murray Smythe's Headstone. Durban Crematorium, Natal, South Africa.

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many Thanks in Advance
Andy

 

X Ref Post #64. A picture of John Alexander French's Headstone. A2. E. 16. Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.

X Ref Post #67. A picture of Victor Buller Turner's Headstone. St Mary's Churchyard, Ditchingham. (St Faith's Crematorium, Norwich), UK.

X Ref Post #73. A picture of Parkash Singh's Headstone. Golders Green Crematorium, London, UK. Sorted

X Ref Post #74. A picture of William Ellis Newton's Headstone. S. A. 4. Lae War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.

X Ref Post #77. A picture of Lalbahadur Thapa's Headstone. Pakilhawa Cemetery, Nepal.

X Ref Post #78. A picture of Lorne MacLaine Campbell's Headstone. Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh, UK. Many thanks to China Hand for the leads/help/pictures and info.

X Ref Post #79. A picture of Eric Anderson's Headstone. II. C. 14. SFAX War Cemetery, Tunisia. Many thanks to AndyBaldEagle

X Ref Post #80. A picture of Chhelu Ram. Sorted

Ref Post #81. A picture of John Thompson McKellar Anderson's Headstone. VIII. A. 44. Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. Supplied by Owen-Many thanks.

X Ref Post #85. A picture of Leonard Henry Trent's Headstone. North Shore Crematorium, Auckland, New Zealand.

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many Thanks in Advance
Andy

 

X Ref Post #88. A picture of Lloyd Allan Trigg's Name. Panel 12, Column 1. Malta Memorial, Malta. Many thanks to Mick McCann at www.britishwargraves.co.uk

X Ref Post #89. A picture of Arthur Louis Aaron's Headstone. II. B. 3. Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria.

X Ref Post #94. A picture of Gaje Ghale's Headstone. Cremated Almoda, Dehradun, India. Sorted

X Ref Post #98. A picture of Alec George Horwood's Name. Face 4, Rangoon Memorial in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.

X Ref Post #99. A picture of George Allan Mitchell. Thanks to Ramacal

X Ref Post #103. A picture of Nand Singh's Headstone. Cremated, Uri, India. Sorted

X Ref Post #105. A picture of Abdul Hafiz's Headstone. 3. Q. 2. Imphal Indian Army War Cemetery, India.

X Ref Post #106. A picture of John Pennington Harman's Headstone. 8. E. 3. Kohima War Cemetery, India. Thanks to Sol

X Ref Post #108. A picture of John Neil Randle's Headstone. 2. C. 8. Kohima War Cemetery, India.

X Ref Post #109. A picture of Kamal Ram's Headstone. Cremated Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India. Sorted

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many thanks in adavnce.
Andy

 

X Ref Post #110. A picture of Richard Wakeford's Headstone. Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey, UK.

X Ref Post #113. A picture of John Keefer Mahony's Headstone. Mount Pleasant Crematorium, London, Ontario, Canada.

X Ref Post #115. A picture of Hanson Victor Turner's Headstone. 6. B. 7. Imphal War Cemetery, India.

X Ref Post #117. A picture of Ganju Lama's Headstone. Cremated Sangmo, India. Sorted

X Ref Post #120. A picture of Sefanaia Sukanaivalu's Headstone. V. B. 13. Rabual War Cemetery, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

X Ref Post #121. A picture of Netrabahadur Thapa's Name. Face 63. The Rangoon Memorial in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.

X Ref Post #122. A picture of Agansing Rai's Headstone. Cremated Dharan, Nepal. Sorted

X Ref Post #124. A picture of Yeshwant Ghadge's Name. Panel 17. Cassino Memorial, Italy.Supplied by gurdjieff-Many thanks.


X Ref Post #130. A picture of Tasker Watkins's Headstone. Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff, UK. Sorted

X Ref Post #133. A picture of Gerard Ross Norton's Headstone. Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa.

Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many thanks in advance
Andy

 

X Ref Post #134. A picture of Leonard Geoffrey Cheshire's Headstone. Cavendish Churchyard (opposite Cavendish Parish Church), Suffolk, UK.

X Ref Post #136. A picture of Sher Bahadur Thapa. No picture available by Bodston.

X Ref Post #144. A picture of George Harold Eardley's Headstone. Macclesfield Crematorium, UK. Sorted

X Ref Post #148. A picture of Bhandari Ram's Headstone. Cremated Auhur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Sorted

X Ref Post #150. A picture of Umrao Singh's Headstone. Cremated Palra Village, Haryana State, India. Sorted

X Ref Post #154. A picture of Sher Shah and one of his name. Face 48, Rangoon Memorial in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.

X Ref Post #162. A picture of Fazal Dim and one of his name. Face 39, Rangoon Memorial in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.

X Ref Post #163. A picture of Gian Singh's Headstone. Cremated Jalandhar Carntt, India.

X Ref Post #165. A picture of Bhanbhagta Gurung's Headstone. Cremated Devghal of Chitawan, Nepal.

X Ref Post #166. A picture of Karamjeet Singh Judge's Headstone. Column 25, Taukkyan Cremation Memorial, Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar.


Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many thanks in advance
Andy

 

Umrao Singh

Rank: Havildar

Unit: Royal Indian Artillery, Indian Army


Awarded: 16th October 1945

The citation in the London Gazette of 29th May 1945 gives the following details:



Andy

Thought you might like this link to go with this Gent

Captain Umrao Singh, VC | Times Online Obituary

Cheers - Rob

 

X Ref Post #170. A picture of Albert Chowne's Headstone. QQ. A. 8. Lae War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.

X Ref Post #172. A picture of Ian Oswald Liddell's Headstone. 3. D. 13. Becklingen War Cemetery, North of Hannover, Germany.

X Ref Post #174. A picture of Ali Haidar's Headstone. Village Shahu Khel, District Kohat, Pakistan.

X Ref Post #175. A picture of Namdeo Jadhao or Jadhav's Headstone. Cremated in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

X Ref Post #181. A picture of Leslie Thomas Starcevich's Headstone. Esperance Public Lawn Cemetery, Western Australia.

X Ref Post #182. A picture of Frank John Partridge's Headstone. Macksville Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia.

X Ref Post #183. A picture of Ian Edward Fraser's Headstone. Landican Cemetery & Crematorium, Wirral, Merseyside, UK. Supplied by Blacksnake-Many thanks.

Ref Post #184. A picture of James Joseph Magennis's Headstone. Nab Wood Crematorium, Shipley, UK. Sadly no plaque, entry in book of remembrance or record of what happened to the ashes. Picture of the Crematorium in its place.

X Ref Post #185. A picture of Robert Hampton Gray's name. Panel 13. Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Canada. Many thanks to Military Cross



Where recipients are cremated a Headstone refers to a plaque or equivalent.

Many thanks in advance
Andy

 

thanks for reading about naik fazal din VC on my blog

 

Andy that really is a fantastic thread and I really didn't wan't to post into it. I have some info about one of the VCs that may be of interest.

F/O Kenneth Campbell (Thread Page 2)

I have been doing some research into another Pilot (P/O Alan Camp) that took part in the raid on Brest 6/4/41 and managed to turn this up from the Operations Record Book and Appendices.

Several aircraft were scheduled to take part in "a desparate and very hazardous" raid to try and inflict damage on the Scharnhorst & Gneisenau. There had been heavy rain and some were actually bogged down on the airfield and only a few actually got there, in daylight and effectively carrying out solo attacks. The pilot I was looking at was stopped from dropping his torpedo because of three flak ships at the dropping point. It was not known that F/O Campbell had actually pressed home his attack let alone put the Gneisenau out of action for 9 months.

Apparently his success was reported back by the French Resistance and his VC was confirmed on that evidence about a year after the attack.

Jim

 

Cheers for that Jim,

I'll edit some of that onto the post later and credit you for it at the end of the thread. Whats the post No. for FO Campbell? I think my settings may be different from yours

Regards
Andy