John Neil Randle VC (December 22, 1917 - May 6, 1944) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
CAPTAIN JOHN NEIL RANDLE
He was 26 years old, and a Temporary Captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Captain Randle was commander of 'B' Company of the Norfolks. On May 4 1944 during the Battle of Kohima in North East India he was ordered to attack the Japanese flank on GPT Ridge during the relief and clearance of Kohima.
On the 4th May, 1944, at Kohima in Assam, a Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment attacked the Japanese positions on a nearby ridge. Captain Randle took over command of the Company which was leading the attack when the Company Commander was severely wounded. His handling of a difficult situation in the face of heavy fire was masterly and although wounded himself in the knee by grenade splinters he continued to inspire his men by his initiative, courage and outstanding leadership until the Company had captured its objective and consolidated its position. He then went forward and brought in all the wounded men who were lying outside the perimeter. In spite of his painful wound Captain Randle refused to be evacuated and insisted on carrying out a personal reconnaissance with great daring in bright moonlight prior to a further attack by his Company on the position to which the enemy had withdrawn. At dawn on 6th May the attack opened, led by Captain Randle, and one of the platoons succeeded in reaching the crest of the hill held by the Japanese. Another platoon, however, ran into heavy medium machine gun fire from a bunker on the reverse slope of the feature.
Captain Randle immediately appreciated that this particular bunker covered not only the rear of his new position but also the line of communication of the battalion and therefore the destruction of the enemy post was imperative if the operation was to succeed. With utter disregard of the obvious danger to himself Captain Randle charged the Japanese machine gun post single-handed with rifle and bayonet. Although bleeding in the face and mortally wounded by numerous bursts of machine gun fire he reached the bunker and silenced the gun with a grenade thrown through the bunker slit. He then flung his body across the slit so that the aperture should be completely sealed. The bravery shown by this officer could not have been surpassed and by his self-sacrifice he saved the lives of many of his men and enabled not only his own Company but the whole Battalion to gain its objective and win a decisive victory over the enemy.
A memorial to Captain Randle is in St. Peter's Church Petersham.
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Further information
Brother-in-law of Flying Officer Leslie Thomas Manser, VC. Leslie Thomas Manser VC ( 11 May 1922 - 31 May 1942) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious
The medal
His Victoria Cross is on loan to the Imperial War Museum by his son John. The Imperial War Museum is a Museum in London, England featuring military vehicles weapons war memorabilia an extensive library open to the public It is displayed alongside that of his friend Leonard Cheshire. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
External links
182 Victoria Crosses were awarded to 181 service personnel for gallant acts carried out during the Second World War. Monuments to Courage Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey, published in 1999 on the last resting places of 1322 of the 1350 The Register of the Victoria Cross is a Reference work that provides brief information on every VC ever awarded it provides a summary of the deed along Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial recordsDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic