VICTORIA CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 October 1941, Page 4

VICTORIA CROSS

AWARDED TO AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER VALIANT EXPLOIT IN SYRIA. THE OFFICIAL CITATION. LONDON, October 28. The Victoria Cross has been conferred on an Australian soldier, Private James Heather Gordon, a member of the Australian forces in Syria. On July 10, Private Gordon’s company was held up by intense machine-gun fire. He crept forward until he was able to charge with the bayonet, killing four enemy gunners and demoralising the defence. An official report states that on the night of July 10, during an attack on a hill north of Djezzine, Private Gordon’s company came under intense machine-gun fire and its advance was held up. Movement even by single individuals became almost impossible. The enemy machine-gun position, Which had ’brought two of the forward platoons to a halt was fortified and completely covered the area occupied by our forces. Private Gordon, on his own initiative, crept forward over an area swept by machine-gun and grenade fire and succeeded in approaching close to the post. He then charged it from the front and killed, the four ma-chine-gunners with his bayonet. His action completely demoralised the enemy in this sector and his company advanced and took the position. During the remainder of the action that night and on the following day, Private Gordon, who throughout the operations had shown a high decree of courage, fought with equal gallantry.