17 July 2011

Victoria Cross: B. S. Gordon

BERNARD SIDNEY GORDON, MM

Lance Corporal, 41st Battalion (Queensland) Australian Imperial Force

Born: 16 August 1891, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Died: 19 October 1963, Torquay, Queensland, Australia

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26/27th August, 1918, east of Bray.
He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated. Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on the gun, and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer, and three machine guns.
Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.

[London Gazette issue 31082 dated 24 Dec 1918, published 24 Dec 1918.]

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