Wakeford VC. Original Recommendation

Paul Reed · 02-07-2008, 12:57 PM

Found this in the National Archives yesterday. It is the original recommendation for Captain Richard Wakeford, 2/4 Hamps, Victoria Cross.

Paul Reed · 02-07-2008, 12:58 PM

...

Paul Reed · 02-07-2008, 01:00 PM

Bit more on him here:

Richard Wakeford - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is him being awarded the medal by the King:

liverpool annie · 02-07-2008, 02:16 PM

Very nice Paul ... so much more than this !

LIEUTENANT (TEMPORARY CAPTAIN)RICHARD WAKEFORD The Hampshire Regiment

extract from the London Gazette 13 July 1944 ..... On 13 May 1944 near Cassino Italy Captain Wakeford accompanied only by his orderly and armed with a revolver went forward and killed several of the enemy and took 20 prisoners. When attacking a hill feature the following day his company came under heavy fire but although wounded in the face and both arms Captain Wakeford pressed home the attack. He was wounded again but reached the objective and consolidated the position

Annie

AndyBaldEagle · 02-07-2008, 03:21 PM

Not often you see them, I have a copy of the original citation for Paddy Mayne's VC which is crossed out and DSO written in, his fourth!

Still trying to find a few where they were not rewarded with either 1) anything at all! or 2) an MID, because they were killed during the action for which recommended!

Any ideas as to where to look? as I have done I think all the ones at PRO (sorry TNA!)

Regards

Andy

dbf · 02-07-2008, 04:34 PM

Paul, sorry to hijack this,

I am also wondering why I can't find MIDs on docsonline for my IGs. Are they not filed on that system, or are they lost?

dbf

Paul Reed · 02-07-2008, 04:38 PM

I don't think they have survived as well as other awards. This document was in a War Diary, not in the downloadable recommendations, by the way.

dbf · 02-07-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Reed

I don't think they have survived as well as other awards. This document was in a War Diary, not in the downloadable recommendations, by the way.

Thanks Paul,
In this case then, they are lost, not in WD - any point in asking Wellington Barracks do you think?

Diane

Owen · 02-07-2008, 10:42 PM

Paul are you able to locate those map refernces?
857165
858171
Pt 73-8417
It would be good to try and find this action on the ground itself oneday.

EDIT.
I've located Massa Vertechi (Point 73) on those maps you gave us on our tour.
x marks the spot.
Monte Cassino & Route 6 top of map.

Owen · 03-07-2008, 07:50 AM

Extract from the Regimental History when he meets the King.
Note Jefferson VC of the LF is also on that Parade, he won his VC just to the north-west of Wakeford.
Wakeford had already been presented with his VC Ribbon on July 14th by Lt-Gen Kirkman , commanding XIII Corps.

02-07-2008, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sussex in exile.. Posts: 5,503	Wakeford VC. Original Recommendation Found this in the National Archives yesterday. It is the original recommendation for Captain Richard Wakeford, 2/4 Hamps, Victoria Cross. __________________ "The only way you get out of infantry is on a stretcher or six feet under..." Battlefields of WW2: The Guide to visiting WW2 Battlefields. www.ww2battlefields.com

02-07-2008, 12:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sussex in exile.. Posts: 5,503	... __________________ "The only way you get out of infantry is on a stretcher or six feet under..." Battlefields of WW2: The Guide to visiting WW2 Battlefields. www.ww2battlefields.com

02-07-2008, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sussex in exile.. Posts: 5,503	Bit more on him here: Richard Wakeford - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is him being awarded the medal by the King: __________________ "The only way you get out of infantry is on a stretcher or six feet under..." Battlefields of WW2: The Guide to visiting WW2 Battlefields. www.ww2battlefields.com

02-07-2008, 03:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
AndyBaldEagle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 733	Not often you see them, I have a copy of the original citation for Paddy Mayne's VC which is crossed out and DSO written in, his fourth! Still trying to find a few where they were not rewarded with either 1) anything at all! or 2) an MID, because they were killed during the action for which recommended! Any ideas as to where to look? as I have done I think all the ones at PRO (sorry TNA!) Regards Andy __________________ In proud memory of Lieutenant James Henry Woods 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th September 1944 Lieutenant William Stewart Donaldson 156th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 21st September 1944 Sergeant John Burge Glider Pilot Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th-26th September 1944 Corporal John Walter Bentley 12th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action on the Rhine 24th March 1945 LEST WE FORGET 'They are free-yes-but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is Law, which they fear much more than your subjects fear you. Whatever this master commands, they do; and his command never varies: it is never to retreat in battle, however great the odds, but always to stand firm, and to conquer or die' (from The Peloponesian War?- Herodotus 490-425BC )

02-07-2008, 04:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sussex in exile.. Posts: 5,503	I don't think they have survived as well as other awards. This document was in a War Diary, not in the downloadable recommendations, by the way. __________________ "The only way you get out of infantry is on a stretcher or six feet under..." Battlefields of WW2: The Guide to visiting WW2 Battlefields. www.ww2battlefields.com

02-07-2008, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
liverpool annie Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 39	Very nice Paul ... so much more than this ! LIEUTENANT (TEMPORARY CAPTAIN)RICHARD WAKEFORD The Hampshire Regiment extract from the London Gazette 13 July 1944 ..... On 13 May 1944 near Cassino Italy Captain Wakeford accompanied only by his orderly and armed with a revolver went forward and killed several of the enemy and took 20 prisoners. When attacking a hill feature the following day his company came under heavy fire but although wounded in the face and both arms Captain Wakeford pressed home the attack. He was wounded again but reached the objective and consolidated the position Annie

02-07-2008, 04:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
dbf . Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Co. Down, NI Posts: 3,728	Paul, sorry to hijack this, I am also wondering why I can't find MIDs on docsonline for my IGs. Are they not filed on that system, or are they lost? dbf

02-07-2008, 10:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 12,330	Paul are you able to locate those map refernces? 857165 858171 Pt 73-8417 It would be good to try and find this action on the ground itself oneday. EDIT. I've located Massa Vertechi (Point 73) on those maps you gave us on our tour. x marks the spot. Monte Cassino & Route 6 top of map. Last edited by Owen; 03-07-2008 at 07:46 AM.

03-07-2008, 07:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 12,330	Extract from the Regimental History when he meets the King. Note Jefferson VC of the LF is also on that Parade, he won his VC just to the north-west of Wakeford. Wakeford had already been presented with his VC Ribbon on July 14th by Lt-Gen Kirkman , commanding XIII Corps.

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