John Readitt

He advanced with grenades after fellow attackers had fallen.

John Readitt was born in Manchester in January 1897. His father was a bootmaker, and John worked in the family business before enlisting in the South Lancashire Regiment in April 1915. He joined the 6th Battalion overseas that November and served at Gallipoli, where frostbite led to evacuation.

After recovering in Egypt, Readitt went with the battalion to Mesopotamia in 1916. On 25 February 1917, near the Dialah River, his platoon was ordered to advance along a watercourse held by the enemy. Its officer was killed, and repeated attempts to gain ground brought heavy casualties.

Readitt continued moving forward after the men immediately around him had been killed or disabled. He used grenades against the defenders, held his exposed position and enabled the attack to be renewed. By the end of the fighting he had helped secure a substantial length of the watercourse. His Victoria Cross recognized the persistence and initiative that had sustained the advance when the original attack had broken down.

He survived the campaign and became a sergeant. Italy also recognized his wartime service with the Bronze Medal of Military Valour. He was discharged in July 1919 and received the Victoria Cross from George V at Buckingham Palace that November.

Readitt returned to the family bootmaking business in Manchester. He married Lily Elliott, and they had two sons and a daughter. His later life remained rooted in his trade and family rather than a continuing military career.

He attended national commemorations as a Victoria Cross recipient and received the 1937 and 1953 coronation medals. Readitt died at Clayton, Manchester, on 9 June 1964 and was buried at Gorton Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when working down a broad, deep water-course. Five times he went forward in the face of very heavy machine-gun fire at very close range, being the sole survivor on each occasion. These advances drove back the enemy machine guns, and about 300 yards of water-course was made good in an hour. After his officer had been killed Private Readitt, on his own initiative, organised and made several more advances. On reaching the enemy barricade, he was forced by a counter-attack to retire, giving ground slowly and continuing to throw bombs. On supports reaching him, he held a forward bend by bombing until the position was consolidated. The action of this gallant soldier saved the left flank and enabled his Battalion to maintain its position.

Sixth Supplement to The London Gazette of 3 July 1917. 5 July 1917, Numb. 30167, pp. 6697-98.