John Readitt
Private, 6th Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment
- Register No.
- 1030 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 6th Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment all South Lancashire Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 February 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 5th July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 19th January 1897 at Manchester, Lancashire
- Died
- the 9th June 1964 at Clayton Bridge, Manchester
- Memorial / grave
- at Gorton Cemetery, Manchester
Digest of citation
On 25th February 1917, whilst working down a deep water course, Private Readitt went forward five times at Alqayat-al-Gaharbigah Bend in Mesopotamia, (Iraq), each time in the face of very heavy machine-gun fire at close range. He was the sole survivor on each occasion. These advances drove back the enemy machine-guns, allowing 300 yards of water course to be made good in one hour. Private Readitt, on his own initiative, after his officer had been killed, organised and carried out several more advances. When he reached the enemy barricade, a counter attack forced him to retire, which he did by slowly giving ground, and continuously throwing bombs. When support reached him, he held a forward bend, using bombs, until the position had been consolidated. This action saved the Left flank, enabling his battalion to maintain the position
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
READITT, John. (reg No. 1030).
Private. 6th Battalion. South Lancashire Regiment. * London Gazetted on 5th July 1917.
Born on 19th January 1897 at Manchester, Lancashire.
Died on the 9th June 1964 at Clayton Bridge, Manchester.
Memorial on grave at Gorton Cemetery, Manchester.
Digest of Citation reads: On 25th February 1917, whilst working down a deep water course, Private Readitt went forward five times at Alqayat-al-Gaharbigah Bend in Mesopotamia, (Iraq), each time in the face of very heavy machine-gun fire at close range. He was the sole survivor on each occasion. These advances drove back the enemy machine-guns, allowing 300 yards of water course to be made good in one hour. Private Readitt, on his own initiative, after his officer had been killed, organised and carried out several more advances. When he reached the enemy barricade, a counter attack forced him to retire, which he did by slowly giving ground, and continuously throwing bombs. When support reached him, he held a forward bend, using bombs, until the position had been consolidated. This action saved the Left flank, enabling his battalion to maintain the position.
* Prince of Wales Volunteers.
Additional information:. Sergeant Readitt received his Victoria Cross from King George V in November 1919, in an Investiture at Buckingham Palace. Just months before the European War (WW I) started, he and his father, at their cobblers shop in Ashton New Road, Clayton, had 'clinched a deal ' to make, and maintain, football boots for Manchester United FC. Unfortunately John joined the South Lancashire Regiment and went off to war.. (This information was in the Manchester Evening News 21st March, 2000. In 1921 he married and had three children, two sons and a daughter. In April, 2000, his Victoria Cross was put up for auction at Spinks and raised £40,000.( See VC's at Auction Page)
Additional information
Sergeant Readitt received his Victoria Cross from King George V in November 1919, in an Investiture at Buckingham Palace. Just months before the European War (WW I) started, he and his father, at their cobblers shop in Ashton New Road, Clayton, had 'clinched a deal ' to make, and maintain, football boots for Manchester United FC. Unfortunately John joined the South Lancashire Regiment and went off to war.. (This information was in the Manchester Evening News 21st March, 2000. In 1921 he married and had three children, two sons and a daughter. In April, 2000, his Victoria Cross was put up for auction at Spinks and raised £40,000.( See VC's at Auction Page)
* Prince of Wales Volunteers.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Gorton Cemetery, Manchester
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