List of Second World War Victoria Cross recipients explained

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command.[1] The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856 that was 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 Second World War. The war, also known as World War II (WWII), was a global military conflict that involved a majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. The war involved the mobilisation of more than 100 million military personnel, making it the most widespread war in history. In a state of "total war", the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Throughout the six-year duration of the war, weapons and technology improved rapidly, including the use of jet aircraft, radar and nuclear weapons. More than 70 million people, the majority of whom were civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.[5]

The start of the war is generally held to be 1 September 1939, with the German invasion of Poland and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by most of the Crown Colonies of the British Empire and Commonwealth, and by France. The first Victoria Cross of the war was awarded to Gerard Roope for action whilst in command of HMS Glowworm (although not gazetted until 1945). The war at sea began immediately after war was declared with the Battle of the Atlantic, in which German U-boats attempted to disrupt and destroy allied convoys. Throughout the war the Royal Navy was tasked with guarding vital shipping lanes and enabling amphibious operations across the globe; the St Nazaire Raid saw five Victoria Crosses awarded.[6] The Battle of the Mediterranean was fought throughout the war and included the Battle of Taranto and Battle of Matapan, as well as protecting convoys including the Malta convoys. In total, 23 servicemen from the Royal Navy were awarded the Victoria Cross including one 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 Phoney War between Germany and the Franco-British alliance. The phoney war ended with the Battle of France where Germany invaded Benelux and subsequently France, which forced British troops to escape from Dunkirk. In 1941, war spread to the Middle East and North Africa as well as the East African Campaign. The United States officially joined the war in December 1941 after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, British forces under Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery defeated the Axis forces of General Erwin Rommel in the Second Battle of El Alamein, which marked a major turning point in the Western Desert campaign and the North African campaign. It ended Axis hopes of occupying Egypt, taking control of the Suez Canal, and gaining access to the Middle Eastern oil fields. Nine VCs were awarded for action in the Western Desert Campaign. By 1943, the war was being fought in several theatres, including the Pacific, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Burma campaign of the Pacific War took place from 1942 to 1945, and saw 29 Victoria Crosses awarded. By 1944 and the Allied invasion of Normandy, the Allies were making ground in several theatres including advances in the 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

NameUnitDate of actionPlace of action
No. 218No. 218 Squadron RAF1943-08-1212 August 1943*Turin, Italy
0066th Gurkha Rifles1944-06-1111 June 1944
23 June 1944*		Pin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma
002.192/19th Battalion, AIF1942-01-1818–22 January 1942Muar, Malaya
East Yorkshire Regiment1943-04-066 April 1943*Battle of Wadi Akarit, Tunisia
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)1943-04-2323 April 1943Longstop Hill, Tunisia
Durham Light Infantry1940-05-1515–16 May 1940River Dyle, Belgium
No. 578No. 578 Squadron RAF1944-03-3030 March 1944*Nuremberg, Germany
South Staffordshire Regiment1944-09-2020 September 1944*Arnhem, the Netherlands
Royal Norfolk Regiment1944-08-066 August 1944*Sourdeval, France
No. 635No. 635 Squadron RAF1944-08-044 August 1944*Trossy St. Maximin, France
HMS Campbeltown1942-03-2727 March 1942St Nazaire, France
King's Royal Rifle Corps1941-11-2121 November 1941*Sidi Rezegh, Libya
Corps of Indian Engineers1941-01-3131 January 1941 to
1 February 1941		Gallabat, Abyssinia
0099th Gurkha Rifles1944-07-099 July 1944*Taunggyi, Burma
Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)1944-12-099 December 1944*Faenza, Italy
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment1944-10-088 October 1944Monte Ceco, Italy
South Staffordshire Regiment1944-09-1717–25 September 1944Arnhem, the Netherlands
South Staffordshire Regiment1944-03-1313 March 1944*Henu Block, Burma
HMS X61943-09-2222 September 1943Kåfjord, Norway
Royal Horse Artillery1941-11-2121–23 November 1941Sidi Rezegh, Libya
No. 022No. 22 Squadron RAF1941-04-066 April 1941*Brest, France
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)1943-04-066 April 1943Wadi Akarit, Tunisia
Monmouthshire Regiment1945-04-022 April 1945Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany
Irish Guards1945-04-2121 April 1945*Wistedt, Germany
No. 035No. 35 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron RAF
No. 617 Squadron RAF		1940-00-00June 1940–July 1944Over Europe
002.022/2nd Battalion, AIF1945-03-2525 March 1945*Dagua, New Guinea
Queen's Own Rifles of Canada1945-02-2625–26 February 1945*Mooshof, Germany
No. 210No. 210 Squadron RAF1944-07-1717–18 July 1944Atlantic Ocean
Frontier Force Regiment1942-01-033 January 1942Kuantan, Malaya
South Alberta Regiment1944-08-1818–20 August 1944Battle of Falaise, France
Royal Australian Artillery1941-06-1919 June 1941 to
6 July 1941		Merdjayoun-Damour, Lebanon
002.482/48th Battalion, AIF1943-11-2424 November 1943Sattelberg, New Guinea
01010th Baluch Regiment1945-03-022 March 1945*Meiktila, Burma
Royal Scots Fusiliers1945-01-1818 January 1945*Stein, (Selfkant) Germany
Corps of Royal Engineers1942-03-2727 March 1942*St Nazaire, France
King's Shropshire Light Infantry1944-10-1616 October 1944Overloon, the Netherlands
002.172/17th Battalion, AIF1941-04-1313–14 April 1941*Tobruk, Libya
No. 105No. 105 Squadron RAF1941-07-044 July 1941Bremen, Germany
02222nd Battalion, NZEF1942-07-1515 July 1942Ruweisat, Egypt
East Lancashire Regiment1940-05-3131 May 1940 to
1 June 1940		Dunkirk, France
825825 Naval Air Squadron1942-02-1212 February 1942*Straits of Dover, England
HMS Jervis Bay1940-11-055 November 1940*Atlantic Ocean
0077th Royal Tank Regiment1942-05-2727 May 1942 to
15 June 1942		Libya
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps1942-08-1919 August 1942Dieppe, France
HMS XE31945-07-3131 July 1945Johore Straits, Singapore
002.092/9th Battalion, AIF1942-09-044 September 1942*Milne Bay, New Guinea
Welsh Guards1940-05-1717–24 May 1940*Arras, France
0044th Royal Tank Regiment1941-11-2323 November 1941Tobruk, Libya
No. 012No. 12 Squadron RAF1940-05-1212 May 1940*Albert Canal, Belgium
Maratha Light Infantry1944-07-1010 July 1944*Upper Tiber Valley, Italy
0055th Gurkha Rifles1943-05-2424 May 1943Chin Hills, Burma
No. 617No. 617 Squadron RAF1943-05-1616 May 1943Möhne Dam, Germany
002.312/31st Battalion, AIF1941-07-1010 July 1941Djezzine, Syria
HMS Thrasher1942-02-1616 February 1942Crete, Mediterranean Sea
002.482/48th Battalion, AIF1942-10-2525–26 October 1942*Miteiriya Ridge, Egypt
(RCNVR) 1945-08-099 August 1945*Honshū, Japan
No. 012No. 12 Squadron RAF1940-05-1212 May 1940*Albert Canal, Belgium
Parachute Regiment1944-09-1717–20 September 1944*Arnhem, the Netherlands
Royal Norfolk Regiment1940-05-2121 May 1940*River Escaut, Belgium
0033rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery1941-11-2121 November 1941*Sidi Rezegh, Libya
002.482/48th Battalion, AIF1942-07-2222 July 1942*El Alamein, Egypt
0022nd Gurkha Rifles1945-03-055 March 1945Tamandu, Burma
0088th Gurkha Rifles1945-05-1212–13 May 1945Taungdaw, Burma
0085th Gurkha Rifles1944-11-1010 November 1944*Monte San Bartolo, Italy
0099th Jat Infantry1944-04-066 April 1944*Imphal, India
01313th Frontier Force Rifles1945-04-099 April 1945Fusignano, Italy
No. 083No. 83 Squadron RAF1940-09-1515 September 1940Antwerp, Belgium
Royal Army Medical Corps1945-01-2323 January 1945*Brachterbeek, the Netherlands
Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment1944-04-088–9 April 1944*Kohima, India
York and Lancaster Regiment1944-09-2929 September 1944*Antwerp, Belgium
0022nd Division, NZEF1941-04-2929 April 1941Kalamai, Greece
Lincolnshire Regiment1944-02-1616 February 1944*Ngakyedauk Pass, Burma
Green Howards1944-06-066 June 1944Normandy, France
No. 162No. 162 Squadron RCAF1944-06-2424 June 1944*Faroes, Atlantic Ocean
Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)1944-01-1818–20 January 1944*Kyauchaw, Burma
0022nd Division, NZEF1941-05-2020–28 May 1941Crete, Greece
04343 Commando1945-04-022 April 1945*Lake Comacchio, Italy
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers1941-11-2525 November 1941*Tobruk, Libya
No. 106No. 106 Squadron RAF1944-04-2626 April 1944Schweinfurt, Germany
Maratha Light Infantry1945-04-099 April 1945Senio River, Italy
Royal Norfolk Regiment1944-08-077–8 August 1944Grimbosq, France
Lancashire Fusiliers1944-05-1616 May 1944Monte Cassino, Italy
01515th Punjab Regiment1945-03-1818 March 1945*Meiktila, Burma
002.252/25th Battalion, AIF1943-09-1313 September 1943New Guinea
002.042/4th Battalion, AIF1945-05-1515 May 1945Wewak, New Guinea
Irish Guards1943-04-2828 April 1943Dj. Arada, Tunisia
No. 011No. 11 (Scottish) Commando1941-11-1717–18 November 1941*Beda Littoria, Libya
002.482/48th Battalion, AIF1942-10-2323–31 October 1942*El Alamein, Egypt
002.142/14th Battalion, AIF1942-08-2929 August 1942Isurava, New Guinea
No. 001No. 1 Commando1945-01-3131 January 1945*Kangaw, Burma
0077th Gurkha Rifles1944-06-1212 June 1944Ningthoukhong, India
Special Air Service1945-04-088–9 April 1945*Lake Comacchio, Italy
Hampshire Regiment1942-12-033 December 1942Tebourba, Tunisia
King's African Rifles1941-05-1919 May 1941*Colito, Abyssinia
No. 049No. 49 Squadron RAF1940-08-1212 August 1940Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany
Coldstream Guards1945-04-033 April 1945Lingen, Germany
HMS Pandora
HMS Turbulent		1939-00-00September 1939 to
23 March 1943*		Mediterranean Sea
No. 271 Squadron RAF1944-09-1919 September 1944*Arnhem, the Netherlands
Scots Guards1943-04-2222–27 April 1943*Dj Bou Arada, Tunisia
002.032/3rd Pioneer Battalion, AIF1945-05-1212 May 1945*Tarakan Island, Borneo
HMS XE31945-07-3131 July 1945Johore Straits, Singapore
Westminster Regiment1944-05-2424 May 1944River Melfa, Italy
No. 018No. 18 Squadron RAF1942-12-044 December 1942*Chougui, Tunisia
No. 050No. 50 Squadron RAF1942-05-3030 May 1942*Cologne, Germany
HMS Foylebank1940-07-044 July 1940*Portland, England
South Saskatchewan Regiment1942-08-1919 August 1942Dieppe, France
(RAAF)No. 149No. 149 Squadron RAF1942-11-2828 November 1942*Turin, Italy
HMS Torbay1942-03-044–5 March 1942Corfu, Greece
London Scottish1944-01-2323–24 January 1944*Damiano Ridge, Italy
No. 419No. 419 Squadron RCAF1944-06-1212 June 1944*Cambrai, France
No. 044No. 44 Squadron RAF1942-04-1717 April 1942Augsberg, Germany
Essex Regiment1942-03-2828 March 1942St Nazaire, France
No. 022No. 22 Squadron RAAF1943-03-1616–18 March 1943*New Guinea
02828th Māori Battalion, NZEF1943-03-2626–27 March 1943*Tebaga Gap, Tunisia
Grenadier Guards1940-05-2121 May 1940River Escaut, Belgium
No. 249No. 249 Squadron RAF1940-08-1616 August 1940Southampton, England
Kaffrarian Rifles, South African Army1944-08-3131 August 1944Montegridolfo, Italy
Winnipeg Grenadiers1941-12-1919 December 1941*Mount Butler, Hong Kong
No. 109No. 109 Squadron RAF1944-12-2323 December 1944*Cologne, Germany
0088th Battalion, Militia (Australia) 1945-07-2424 July 1945Bougainville, New Guinea
HMS Walney1942-11-088 November 1942Oran, Algeria
HMS X71943-09-2222 September 1943Kåfjord, Norway
Royal Regiment of Artillery1942-08-1919 August 1942Dieppe, France
0066th Gurkha Rifles1944-06-2323 June 1944Mogaung, Burma
01010th Parachute Battalion1944-09-1919 September 1944*Arnhem, the Netherlands
0055th Gurkha Rifles1944-06-2626 June 1944Bishenpur, India
01010th Baluch Regiment1944-11-2222 November 1944Arakan, Burma
0066th Rajputana Rifles1943-04-1919–20 April 1943*Djebel Garci, Tunisia
0088th Punjab Regiment1944-05-1212 May 1944River Gari, Italy
0066th Rajputana Rifles1941-02-077–8 February 1941Keren, Eritrea
Royal Norfolk Regiment1944-05-044–6 May 1944*Kohima, India
002.2525th Battalion, Militia (Australia)1945-03-2222 March 1945Bougainville, Solomon Islands
Corps of Royal Engineers1945-03-2121 March 1945*Talaku, Burma
No. 061No. 61 Squadron RAF1943-11-033 November 1943Düsseldorf, Germany
HMS Thrasher1942-02-1616 February 1942Crete, Mediterranean Sea
Wiltshire Regiment1944-06-033 June 1944Anzio, Italy
HMS Glowworm1940-04-088 April 1940Norwegian Sea, off Trondheim
HMS Campbeltown1942-03-2828 March 1942St Nazaire, France
Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)1943-04-2323 April 1943*Guiriat El Atach, Tunisia
HM Motor Gun BoatHM Motor Gun Boat1942-03-2828 March 1942*St Nazaire, France
No. 062No. 62 Squadron RAF1941-12-099 December 1941*Singora, Malaya
Green Howards1943-03-2020–21 March 1943Mareth Line, Tunisia
HMS Coventry1941-05-1818 May 1941*Crete, Mediterranean Sea
01616th Punjab Regiment1945-01-1919–20 January 1945*Kyeyebyin, Burma
HMS Onslow1942-12-3131 December 1942North Cape, Norway
Grenadier Guards1944-02-088–9 February 1944Anzio, Italy
01515th Punjab Regiment1945-03-022 March 1945Myingyan, Burma
Sikh Regiment1944-03-1111–12 March 1944Maungdaw–Buthidaung Road, Burma
0088th Punjab Regiment1943-01-066 January 1943Donbaik, Burma
01313th Frontier Force Rifles1945-02-1616–17 February 1945*Kanlan Ywathit, Burma
0011st Punjab Regiment1944-10-2525 October 1944*Tiddim, Burma
Royal Indian Artillery1944-12-1515–16 December 1944Kaladan Valley, Burma
Seaforth Highlanders of Canada1944-10-2121–22 October 1944River Savio, Italy
Royal Natal Carabineers, South African Army1942-06-055 June 1942Alem Hamza, Egypt
HMT Arab1940-04-2828 April 1940 to
2 May 1940		Namsos, Norway
002.432/43rd Battalion, AIF1945-06-2828 June 1945Beaufort, Borneo
King's Shropshire Light Infantry1945-03-011 March 1945*Kervenheim, Germany
Fiji Infantry Regiment1944-06-2323 June 1944*Bougainville, Solomon Islands
(SAAF)No. 582No. 582 Squadron RAF1945-02-2323 February 1945*Pforzheim, Germany
0022nd Gurkha Rifles1943-04-055–6 April 1943Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
0055th Gurkha Rifles1944-06-2525–26 June 1944Bishenpur, India
0099th Gurkha Rifles1944-09-1818–19 September 1944*San Marino, Italy
No. 009No. 9 Squadron RAF1945-01-011 January 1945*Dortmund-Ems Canal, Germany
Essex Scottish Regiment1945-03-011 March 1945Uedem, Germany
0011st Canadian Parachute Battalion1945-03-2424 March 1945Rhine, Germany
No. 487No. 487 Squadron RNZAF1943-05-033 May 1943Amsterdam, the Netherlands
(RNZAF)No. 200No. 200 Squadron RAF1943-08-1111 August 1943*Atlantic Ocean
Royal 22e Régiment1943-12-1414 December 1943Casa Berardi, Italy
West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)1944-06-066–7 June 1944*Ningthoukhong, India
Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1942-10-2727 October 1942El Alamein, Egypt
0022nd Division, NZEF1941-05-2222–30 May 1941
14–15 July 1942		Crete, Greece
El Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt
Hampshire Regiment1944-05-1313 May 1944Cassino, Italy
Durham Light Infantry1942-06-2727 June 1942*Mersa Matruh, Egypt
HMS Upholder1941-05-2424 May 1941Sicily, Mediterranean Sea
HMS Hardy1940-04-1010 April 1940*Ofotfjord, Norway
RNZAFNo. 075No. 75 Squadron RAF1941-07-077 July 1941Munster, Germany
Welch Regiment1944-08-1616 August 1944Barfour, France
Green Howards1945-03-033 March 1945*Meiktila, Burma
HMS Li Wo1942-02-1414 February 1942*Java Sea, Malaya
East Surrey Regiment1940-08-1111–15 August 1940Observation Hill, Somaliland
Coldstream Guards1943-09-2525 September 1943Salerno, Italy

Notes

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII
  2. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
  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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