Richard Wakeford

He led attacks despite wounds and refused to leave his unit.

Richard Wakeford was born in London on 23 July 1921. Educated at Westminster and Oxford, he intended to become a surgeon but joined the Army when war began. Commissioned in 1941, he served with the Hampshire Regiment in North Africa, where he was wounded and mentioned in despatches.

Near Cassino on 13–14 May 1944, Wakeford led attacks on German positions, capturing prisoners and overcoming a defended house. During the next advance he was wounded in the face and arms, then in both legs, but continued leading and consolidating his company. He waited hours for evacuation while encouraging other casualties. His conduct earned the Victoria Cross.

His damaged hand prevented a surgical career. Invalided from the Army in 1946 with honorary major’s rank, he returned to Oxford to study law and qualified as a solicitor in 1951. Appointed a master of the High Court’s Chancery Division in 1964, he also served as a magistrate and school governor. He died at Leatherhead on 27 August 1972.

Victoria Cross citation Supplement to The London Gazette of 11 July 1944. 13 July 1944, Numb. 36605, pp. 3273-74

On 13th May, 1944, Captain Wakeford commanded the leading Company on the right flank of an attack on two hills near Cassino, and accompanied by his orderly and armed only with a revolver, he killed a number of the enemy and handed over 20 prisoners when the Company came forward. On the final objective a German officer and 5 other ranks were holding a house. After being twice driven back by grenades, Captain Wakeford, with a final dash, reached the window and hurled in his grenades. Those of the enemy who were not killed or wounded, surrendered. Attacking another feature on the following day, a tank became bogged on the start line, surprise was lost and the leading infantry were caught in the enemy’s fire, so that the resulting casualties endangered the whole operation. Captain Wakeford, keeping his Company under perfect control, crossed the start line and although wounded in the face and in both arms, led his men up the hill. Half way up the hill his Company came under heavy spandau fire; in spite of his wounds, he organized and led a force to deal with this opposition so that his Company could get on. By now the Company was being heavily mortared and Captain Wakeford was again wounded, in both legs, but he still went on and reaching his objective, he organized and consolidated the remainder of his Company and reported to his Commanding Officer before submitting to any personal attention. During the seven hour interval before stretcher-bearers could reach him his unwavering high spirits encouraged the wounded men around him. His selfless devotion to duty, leadership, determination, courage and disregard for his own serious injuries were beyond all praise.