Frank Jefferson

Francis Arthur Jefferson VC
Frank Jefferson with his parents after receiving his medal.
Nickname(s)	Frank
Born	(1921-08-18)18 August 1921 Ulverston, Lancashire
Died	4 September 1982(1982-09-04) (aged 61) Bolton, Lancashire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1942–46 1950–51
Rank	Lance-Corporal
Unit	Lancashire Fusiliers Northamptonshire Regiment
Battles/wars	Second World War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Francis Arthur Jefferson VC (18 August 1921 – 4 September 1982) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. It was awarded for his actions at the Battle of Monte Cassino during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.

Details

Jefferson was 22 years old, and a fusilier in the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Depiction of Jefferson and the PIAT at the Fusilier Museum

On 16 May 1944, during an attack on the Gustav Line, Monte Cassino, Italy, the leading company of Fusilier Jefferson's battalion had to dig in without protection. The enemy counter-attacked opening fire at short range, and Fusilier Jefferson on his own initiative seized a PIAT gun and, running forward under a hail of bullets, fired on the leading tank. It burst into flames and its crew were killed. The fusilier then reloaded and went towards the second tank which withdrew before he could get within range. By this time, British tanks had arrived and the enemy counter-attack was smashed.^[1]

Further information

Jefferson later achieved the rank of lance-corporal.

The medal

Jefferson's VC was stolen from his mother's home in 1982 and has not been recovered.^[2]

References

↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36605. p. 3273. 11 July 1944. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
↑ http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aastolen.htm

Harvey, David. Monuments to Courage, 1999.
Laffin, John. British VCs of World War 2, 1997.
The Register of the Victoria Cross, This England, 1997.

External links

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

Predecessors	Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (1674–1968) Royal Warwickshire Regiment (1685–1968) Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (1685–1968) Lancashire Fusiliers (1688–1968)

Victoria Cross	James Bulmer Johnson Patrick McHale Peter McManus Ernest Sykes Thomas Bryan Robert Henry Cain James Joseph Bernard Jackman Wilfred Wood John Scott Youll William Amey Robert Edwin Phillips Arthur Vickers Julian Royds Gribble Arthur Hutt Edward Elers Delaval Henderson Thomas Elsdon Ashford Maurice Dease Neville Elliott-Cooper Charles Fitzclarence Thomas Egerton Hale William Hope Mathew Hughes Henry Mitchell Jones Robert Gee Sidney Frank Godley George Jarratt John Molyneux William Norman Frederick William Palmer Samuel George Pearse Charles Graham Robertson Walter Napleton Stone Arthur Percy Sullivan Cuthbert Bromley Frank Edward Stubbs John Elisha Grimshaw Richard Raymond Willis Alfred Joseph Richards William Stephen Kenealy John Lynn James Hutchinson Bertram Best-Dunkley Joseph Lister Bernard Matthew Cassidy John Schofield Joel Halliwell Edward Benn Smith Harold John Colley Frank Lester James Clarke James Neville Marshall Francis Arthur Jefferson

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