VICTORIA CROSS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 64, 12 September 1942, Page 6

VICTORIA CROSS

THREE AWARDS

(Rec. 9 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 11. Mr. J. Curtin announced the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Private A. S. Gurney, a Westralian. This is the sixth Australian to be awarded this decoration. The citation states: "Private Gurney silenced two machine-gun posts at Tel el Isa before he was killed at a third post. By his single-handed action. Private Gurney enabled his company to press forward and inflict heavy loss on the enemy." (Rec. 9 a.m.) CAIRO. Sept. 11. It is officially stated that Sergeant Quinton Smythe. of the Royal Natal Carabineers, has been awarded the Victoria Cross. Smythe is 26, and a Natal farmer. He is awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry in the Alemhamza area on June 5 during an attack on an enemy strong-point in which his officer was severely wounded. Smythe, though himself suffering from a wound in the forehead, took command of the platoon, destroyed an enemy machine-gun post, and captured its crew. He also captured the. crew of an anti-tank gun which was hindering the advance, and successfully defeated an enemy attempt, at encirclement. He displayed leadership which inspired those following him.

(Rec. 12.20 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept 11. The award of a posthumous V.C. to Private A. H. Wakenshaw. of the Durham Light Infantry, is announced. On June 27 this year Wakenshaw was a member of 'the crew of a twopounder anti-tank gun on the forward slopes of Mersa Matruh. The enemy attacked, but Wakenshaw's gun stopped one enemy vehicle which was towing a mobile gun. Another enemy mobile gun came into acition, killing or severely wounding all the members Of the anti-tank gun crew. Though severely wounded. Wakenshaw, whose left arm was blown off. above the elbow, succeeded in getting his gun into action again, and fired five more rounds. Then his gun-aimer was killed and Wakenshaw was blown away from the gun, suffering further severe wounds, but again he dragged himself back to the gun and was preparing to fire it when a direct hit on the ammunition killed him. This act of conspicuous gallantry prevented the enemy using their light gun on infantry, which were able to withdraw in safety. —8.0. W. _______