Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

Richard Wakeford VC (23 July 1921 – 27 August 1972) was an English soldier and a recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces.

Details

Richard Wakeford (1921-1972) was born in Kensington, London on 23 July 1921, the son of Dr. Victor David Collins Wakeford and Mary (née Kee), and was educated at

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

and

Trinity College, Oxford Trinity College (full name: The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope (Knight)) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in E ...

. In 1939, he began a course in medicine at Oxford University, intending to become a surgeon and follow in his father's footsteps. Unfortunately, World War II curtailed his medical studies, and ultimately his choice of career. He was commissioned into the Army in 1941. Richard Wakeford was 22 years old, and a temporary

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in the 2/4th Battalion,

The Hampshire Regiment The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. The regim ...

of the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

, during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 May 1944, near

Cassino Cassino () is a ''comune'' in the province of Frosinone at the southern end of the region of Lazio. It's the last city of the Valle Latina, Latin Valley. It is located at the foot of Monte Cairo near the confluence of the Gari (river), Gari and ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, Captain Wakeford, accompanied by his orderly and armed only with a revolver, went forward and killed a number of men from the German 1st Parachute Division and took 20 prisoners. When attacking a hill feature the following day his company came under heavy fire, although wounded in the face and both arms, Captain Wakeford pressed home the attack. He was wounded again, but reached the objective and consolidated the position.

Further information

After the war, he returned to Trinity College, Oxford. He stroked the Trinity 1st VIII to the Head of the River in the 1946 Summer Eights. He was invalided out of the army with the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

that same year. On 31 March 1951, he married Denise Elizabeth Corlson at St Saviour's Church, Westcliff on Sea, Essex. Mrs. Denise Wakeford died on 2 February 2019, aged 96.). He qualified as a solicitor and in 1964 was appointed as a Chancery Master. Richard Wakeford died at Leatherhead, Surrey, in 1972 aged 51 and was cremated at Leatherhead Randalls Park Crematorium. The

Haberdashers' Company The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient guild, merchant guild of City of London, London associated with the silk and velvet trades. History and functions The Haberdashers' Company ...

, of which he was a Warden, held a memorial service for him on 26 September 1972 at

St Lawrence Jewry St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall is a Church of England guild church in the City of London on Gresham Street, next to the Guildhall. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. It is ...

.The Times, 28 September 1972, page 18 His VC is held by the

Worshipful Company of Haberdashers The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient merchant guild of London associated with the silk and velvet trades. History and functions The Haberdashers' Company received its first ro ...

in London. A memorial plaque in honour of Major Richard Wakeford VC and Mrs. Denise Elizabeth Wakeford was erected at Leatherhead Randalls Park Crematorium, Surrey, England in 2019.

References

Bibliography

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Surrey)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Wakeford, Richard 1921 births 1972 deaths Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea People from Kensington People educated at Westminster School, London Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Royal Hampshire Regiment officers British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Masters of the High Court (England and Wales)