Philip John Gardner
Captain, Royal Tank Regiment, RAC
- Register No.
- 440 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Tank Regiment, RAC (register: 4th Royal Tank Regiment) all 4th Royal Tank Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 November 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 10th February, 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 25th December 1914 at Sydenham, London
Digest of citation
On 23rd November, 1941 at Tobruk, Libya, Captain Gardner took two tanks to the rescue of two armoured cars of the King's Dragoon Guards, which were out of action and under heavy attack. Whilst one tank gave covering fire the captain dismounted from the other, hitched a tow rope to one of the cars, then lifted into it an officer, both of whose legs had been blown off. The tow rope broke, so Captain Gardner returned to the armoured car, but was immediately wounded in the arm and leg. Despite this he managed to transfer the wounded man to the second tank and returned to British lines through intense shellfire
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GARDNER, Philip John. (reg No. 440).
Captain. Royal Tank Regiment, RAC.
London Gazetted on 10th February, 1942.
Born on 25th December 1914 at Sydenham, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd November, 1941 at Tobruk, Libya, Captain Gardner took two tanks to the rescue of two armoured cars of the King's Dragoon Guards, which were out of action and under heavy attack. Whilst one tank gave covering fire the captain dismounted from the other, hitched a tow rope to one of the cars, then lifted into it an officer, both of whose legs had been blown off. The tow rope broke, so Captain Gardner returned to the armoured car, but was immediately wounded in the arm and leg. Despite this he managed to transfer the wounded man to the second tank and returned to British lines through intense shellfire.
Additional information:. Captain Gardner also held the Military Cross.(MC). Observers of Captain Gardner's action on the battlefield were confident that this bravery, in saving the life of the wounded man, was worthy of the Decoration of the Victoria Cross.
Additional information
Captain Gardner also held the Military Cross.(MC). Observers of Captain Gardner's action on the battlefield were confident that this bravery, in saving the life of the wounded man, was worthy of the Decoration of the Victoria Cross.
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