George Albert Cairns
Encyclopedia
George Albert Cairns VC
(12 December 1913 – 19 March 1944) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
, British Army
, attached to The South Staffordshire Regiment
during the Second World War serving with the Chindits
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 March 1944 at Henu Block, Burma (now Myanmar), during an attack on a hill-top held by the Japanese, Lieutenant Cairns was attacked by a Japanese officer who with his sword hacked off the lieutenant's left arm. The latter killed the officer, picked up the sword and continued to lead his men, slashing left and right with the captured sword, killing and wounding several of the enemy before he himself fell to the ground. His action so inspired his comrades that the Japanese were completely routed. He died next day of his wounds.
, Brighstone
, Isle of Wight
.
Cairns' VC was the last to be gazetted for the Second World War as the original recommendation was with General Wingate when he was killed in an air crash. The recommendation was revived following a BBC broadcast of Cairns’ actions in December 1948.
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(12 December 1913 – 19 March 1944) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Cairns was 30 years old, and a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
The Somerset Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which served under various titles from 1685 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.-Formation:...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, attached to The South Staffordshire Regiment
South Staffordshire Regiment
The South Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1959 the regiment was amlagamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the Staffordshire Regiment...
during the Second World War serving with the Chindits
Chindits
The Chindits were a British India "Special Force" that served in Burma and India in 1943 and 1944 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 March 1944 at Henu Block, Burma (now Myanmar), during an attack on a hill-top held by the Japanese, Lieutenant Cairns was attacked by a Japanese officer who with his sword hacked off the lieutenant's left arm. The latter killed the officer, picked up the sword and continued to lead his men, slashing left and right with the captured sword, killing and wounding several of the enemy before he himself fell to the ground. His action so inspired his comrades that the Japanese were completely routed. He died next day of his wounds.
Further information
Cairns was buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma (now Myanmar) in Plot 6, Row A, Grave 4. A stone memorial similar to a headstone commemorates Cairns at St Mary the Virgin ChurchSt. Mary's Church, Brighstone
St. Mary's Church, Brighstone is a parish church in the Church of England located in Brighstone, Isle of Wight. The churchyard contains a memorial stone to George Albert Cairns VC.-History:The church is medieval dating from the twelfth century....
, Brighstone
Brighstone
Brighstone is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, 6 miles southwest of Newport on the B3399 road. Brighstone was previously known as "Brixton"...
, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
.
Cairns' VC was the last to be gazetted for the Second World War as the original recommendation was with General Wingate when he was killed in an air crash. The recommendation was revived following a BBC broadcast of Cairns’ actions in December 1948.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Staffordshire Regiment in Whittington, StaffordshireWhittington, Staffordshire
Whittington is a village and civil parish which lies approximately 3 miles south east of Lichfield in the Lichfield district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,591. The parish council is a joint one with Fisherwick...
.