- SURNAME
Cairns
- FORENAME
George Albert
- UNIT
Somerset Light Infantry,att 1 Bn South Staffordshire Regiment (77 Ind.Bde)
- RANK
Lieutenant (A/Captain)
- NUMBER
198186
- AWARD
Victoria Cross
- PLACE
Burma 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/cairns-george-albert.5479/CITATION:
Victoria Cross : On the 5th March, 1944, 77 Independent Infantry Brigade, of which the 1st South Staffordshire Regiment formed a part, landed by glider at Broadway (Burma).
On the 12th March,. 1944, columns from the South Staffordshire Regiment and 3/6 Gurkha Rules established a road and rail block across the Japanese lines of communication at Henu Block.
The Japanese counter-attacked this position heavily in the early morning of the 13th March, 1944, and the South Staffordshire Regiment was ordered to attack a hill-top which formed the basis of the Japanese attack.
During this action, in which Lieutenant CAIRNS took a foremost part, he was attacked by a Japanese officer, who, with his sword hacked off Lieutenant CAIRNS left arm. Lieutenant CAIRNS killed this Officer; picked up the sword and continued to lead his men in the attack and slashing left and right with the captured sword killed and wounded several Japanese before he himself fell to the ground.
Lieutenant CAIRNS subsequently died from his wounds. His action so inspired all his comrades that, later the Japanese were completely routed, a very rare occurrence at that time.
On the 12th March,. 1944, columns from the South Staffordshire Regiment and 3/6 Gurkha Rules established a road and rail block across the Japanese lines of communication at Henu Block.
The Japanese counter-attacked this position heavily in the early morning of the 13th March, 1944, and the South Staffordshire Regiment was ordered to attack a hill-top which formed the basis of the Japanese attack.
During this action, in which Lieutenant CAIRNS took a foremost part, he was attacked by a Japanese officer, who, with his sword hacked off Lieutenant CAIRNS left arm. Lieutenant CAIRNS killed this Officer; picked up the sword and continued to lead his men in the attack and slashing left and right with the captured sword killed and wounded several Japanese before he himself fell to the ground.
Lieutenant CAIRNS subsequently died from his wounds. His action so inspired all his comrades that, later the Japanese were completely routed, a very rare occurrence at that time.
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38615/supplement/2461https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Albert_Cairns
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8170821/george-albert-cairns
Last edited by a moderator:
