Thomas Currie Derrick
Sergeant (later Lieutenant), 2nd/48th Battalion, (South Australia) Australian Military Forces
- Register No.
- 324 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (later Lieutenant) (register: Sergeant) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 2nd/48th Battalion, (South Australia) Australian Military Forces (register: 26th Brigade, AIF) all 26th Brigade, AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 24 November 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 23rd March 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Born
- 20th March 1914 at Berri, Murray River, South Australia
- Died
- 23rd May 1945 at Tarakan, Born oneo
- Memorial / grave
- Labuan War Cemetery, North Born oneo and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Australian War Memorial, Canberra,
Digest of citation
On 24th November, 1943 in New Guinea, South West Pacific, Sergeant Derrick's platoon was ordered to take a slope by storm and then attack a point 150 yards from the township of Sattelberg. After two hours of fruitless attempts under intense fire from the enemy posts, the company was ordered to retire, but Sergeant Derrick, obtaining permission to make one last attempt, advanced alone and with grenades so demoralised the enemy that they fled leaving all their weapons. He then went on to deal with the remaining posts in the area, and was so successful that the Battalion was able to capture Sattelberg the following day
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DERRICK, Thomas Currie. (reg No 324).
Sergeant (later Lieutenant) 2nd/48th Battalion, (South Australia) Australian Military Forces.
London Gazetted on 23rd March 1944.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Born on 20th March 1914 at Berri, Murray River, South Australia.
Died on 23rd May 1945 at Tarakan, Born oneo.
Memorials at Labuan War Cemetery, North Born oneo and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 24th November, 1943 in New Guinea, South West Pacific, Sergeant Derrick's platoon was ordered to take a slope by storm and then attack a point 150 yards from the township of Sattelberg. After two hours of fruitless attempts under intense fire from the enemy posts, the company was ordered to retire, but Sergeant Derrick, obtaining permission to make one last attempt, advanced alone and with grenades so demoralised the enemy that they fled leaving all their weapons. He then went on to deal with the remaining posts in the area, and was so successful that the Battalion was able to capture Sattelberg the following day.
Additional information: Lieutenant Derrick also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
Additional information
Lieutenant Derrick also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).
Australia.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Labuan War Cemetery, North Born oneo and on the 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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