Thomas Frank Durrant VC (17 October 1918- 28 March 1942) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious 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 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland 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
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Durrant was 23 years old, and a sergeant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army, attached to No. Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers ( RE) and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. 1 Commando during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
On 27 March 1942 at St. Nazaire, France, Sergeant Durrant was in charge of a Lewis gun on HM Motor Launch 306 which came under heavy fire during the raid. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The St Nazaire Raid (also called Operation Chariot) was a successful British seaborne attack on the heavily defended docks of St This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Lewis Gun is a pre- World War I era Squad automatic weapon / Machine gun of American design that was most widely used by the forces of the British Twice Kapitänleutnant Paul called for his surrender and twice Durrant answered with a long burst from the gun. Although he had no protection and was wounded 16 times, he continued firing until the launch was boarded and those who were still alive were taken prisoner. He died of his wounds the next day. Durrant is one of very few men to have received their Victoria Cross on the recommendation of an enemy officer. Kapitänleutnant F. K Paul, commander of the German destroyer "Jaguar", was the one who singled out Durrant for his bravery.
The Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum (Chatham, England). The Royal Engineers Museum and Library is a Military engineering Museum and Library in Gillingham, Medway, Kent, England
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)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- HMS Campbeltown and the Raid on St. Nazaire (detailed description of the action)
- Location of grave and VC medal (France)
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