The Victoria Cross, which was instituted on 29 January 1856

 

The Victoria Cross, which was instituted on 29 January 1856

The Victoria Cross, which was instituted on 29 January 1856, is the highest military decoration awarded for valour ‘in the face of the enemy’ for members of the armed forces and civilians under military command for the United Kingdom, certain Commonwealth countries and the previous British Empire. 

During World War II, a total of 182 Victoria Crosses were awarded to 181 recipients (with one serviceman receiving two awards). Of these, 49 Victoria Crosses were awarded to servicemen engaged in the Asia/Pacific war. These 49 recipients consisted of both officers and enlisted men from all three armed services coming from across the British Empire. 

The nationalities of the recipients broke down into 15 British, 12 Australians, 12 Indians, six Nepalese Gurkhas, three Canadians and one Fijian thus reflecting the collective effort put forth by the British Empire and Commonwealth during this conflict. Here is a small sampling of some of the Victoria Cross awardees in the Asia/Pacific war:

Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn, Canadian, Winnipeg Grenadiers. Awarded posthumously for throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades during the battle for Hong Kong on 19 December 1941.

Flight Lieutenant William Ellis Newton, Australian, No. 22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. 

Awarded posthumously for successfully carrying out two attacks against Japanese positions at Salamaua, New Guinea, on 16 and 18 March 1943 despite heavy opposition that damaged his aircraft on the first attack and shot it down on the second. He was subsequently executed by the Japanese.

Lance Corporal John Pennington Harman, British, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Awarded posthumously for personally destroying a Japanese machine gun position and taking out a section of Japanese soldiers before being fatally hit himself during the battle of Kohima, India, on 8–9 April 1944.

Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, Fijian, Fiji Infantry Regiment. Awarded posthumously for going forward to rescue two wounded comrades while under fire and then sustaining fatal wounds when attempting to rescue a third at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 23 June 1944.

Lieutenant Karamjeet Singh Judge, Indian, 15th Punjab Regiment. Awarded posthumously for leading a platoon attack in which he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to coordinate with supporting tanks and personally led multiple assaults against a series of Japanese bunkers before being fatally wounded at Meiktila, Burma, on 18 March 1945.

Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung, Nepalese Gurkha, 8th Gurkha Rifles. Awarded for holding his position for more than four hours through a series of Japanese attacks despite being grievously wounded at Taungdaw, Burma, on 12–13 May 1945.

Private Leslie Thomas Starcevich, Australian, 2/43rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. Awarded for single-handedly subduing four Japanese machine gun positions during a company advance at Beaufort, Borneo, on 28 June 1945.

Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser, British, Royal Naval Reserve and Leading Seaman James Joseph Magennis, British, Royal Navy. Awarded for commanding the midget submarine XE3 and serving as the vessel’s diver during the attack against the Japanese heavy cruiser Takao in Singapore harbour on 31 July 1945.

The gallantry and self-sacrifice demonstrated by these men personified the efforts of many tens of thousands of their comrades in combatting the common Japanese foe. All deserve our recognition and genuine gratitude. Pictured here are the aforementioned Company Sergeant Major John Osborn and Flight Lieutenant William Newton. 

Unknown authors, public domain. Also Pictured are Lieutenant Fraser and Leading Seaman Magennis. Royal Navy official photographer, public domain. For a complete listing of all Victoria Cross recipients in the Asia/Pacific war and other information regarding this epic conflict, see Forgotten War, the British Empire and Commonwealth’s Epic Struggle Against Imperial Japan, 1941-1945.