George Albert Cairns

Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s) Attached South Staffordshire Regiment, British Army
Awarded: 26th July 1949
Nationality: British

The citation in the London Gazette of 20th May 1949, gives the following details:

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.

Additional Information

This was the last VC of WW2 to be Gazetted.
The original citation was with General Wingate when he was killed this act of bravery was forgotten until the war was over.

Credit to ww2talk.com forum