The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded
for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed
forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire
territories.
The following is an excerpt from the plaque at the rest area,
and is based on the original citation,
James Gordon VC WX 2437 Private James Heather Gordon
2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion, A.I.F.
10th July 1941, near Jezzine [Djezzinel, Syria
"On the night of 10th July 1941 during an attack on "Greenhill",
North of Djezzine, Private Gordon's Company came under intense
machine-gun fire and its advance was held up. Movement even by
single individuals became impossible, one officer and two men being
killed and two men being wounded in the effort to advance. The
enemy machine-gun position which had bought the two forward
platoons to a halt was fortified and completely covered the area
occupied by our forces. Private Gordon, on his own initiative,
crept forward over an area swept by machine-gun and grenade fire
and succeeded in approaching close to the post; he then charged it
from the front and killed the four machine-gunners with bayonet.
His action completely demoralised the enemy in this sector and the
Company advanced and took the position. During the remainder of the
action that night and on the following day, Private Gordon, who has
throughout operations shown a high degree of courage, fought with
equal gallantry."
James Heather Gordon was born at Rockingham, Western Australia
on 7 March 1909. He died on 19 July 1986 and was buried in the
Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia.
FTF honours go to
Tuena
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