Francis Arthur Jefferson
Fusilier Second, Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 636 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Fusilier Second (register: Fusilier) all Fusiliers →
- Unit
- Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers all Lancashire Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 May 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th July 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Born
- 18th August 1921 at Ulverston, Lancashire
- Died
- the 4th of September 1982 at Bolton, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 16th May 1944 during an attack on the Gustav Line, Monte Casino, Italy, the leading company of Fusilier Jefferson's Battalion had to dig in without protection. The enemy counter attacked, opening fire at short range, and Fusilier Jefferson, on his own initiative, seized a Piat gun and, running forward under a hail of bullets, fired on the leading tank. It burst into flames and all the crew were killed. The Fusilier then reloaded and went towards a second tank which withdrew before he could get within range. By this time our own tanks had arrived and the enemy counter-attack was smashed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
JEFFERSON, Francis Arthur. (reg No. 636).
Fusilier. Second Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 13th July 1944.
Born on 18th August 1921 at Ulverston, Lancashire.
Died on the 4th of September 1982 at Bolton, Lancashire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads:. On 16th May 1944 during an attack on the Gustav Line, Monte Casino, Italy, the leading company of Fusilier Jefferson's Battalion had to dig in without protection. The enemy counter attacked, opening fire at short range, and Fusilier Jefferson, on his own initiative, seized a Piat gun and, running forward under a hail of bullets, fired on the leading tank. It burst into flames and all the crew were killed. The Fusilier then reloaded and went towards a second tank which withdrew before he could get within range. By this time our own tanks had arrived and the enemy counter-attack was smashed.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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