James Heather Gordon
Private, 2nd/31st Battalion, (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Military Forces
- Register No.
- 461 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd/31st Battalion, (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Military Forces (register: 2/31st Battalion, AIF) all 2/31st Battalion, AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 10 July 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 28th October, 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Born
- 7th March, 1909 at Rockingham, Western Australia
- Died
- 24th July, 1986 at Perth, Western Australia
- Memorial / grave
- on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
On 10th July, 1941 at Djezzine, Syria, Private Gordon's company was held up by intense machine-gun and grenade fire, but on his own initiative, he crept forward alone and succeeded in getting close to the machine gun post. He then charged it and killed the four machine-gunners. His action completely demoralised the enemy in this sector and the company advanced and took the position
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GORDON, James Heather. (reg No. 461).
Private. 2nd/31st Battalion, (Queensland and Victoria) Australian Military Forces.
London Gazetted on 28th October, 1941.
Born on 7th March, 1909 at Rockingham, Western Australia.
Died on 24th July, 1986 at Perth, Western Australia.
Memorial on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 10th July, 1941 at Djezzine, Syria, Private Gordon's company was held up by intense machine-gun and grenade fire, but on his own initiative, he crept forward alone and succeeded in getting close to the machine gun post. He then charged it and killed the four machine-gunners. His action completely demoralised the enemy in this sector and the company advanced and took the position.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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