THE VICTORIA CROSS AND ACCOMPANYING MEDALS AWARDED TO WARRANT OFFICER II JAMES GORDON, 2 / 31ST BN, AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, HAS BEEN ACQUIRED ON LOAN BY THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL IN CANBERRA.
12 May 2016


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Warrant Officer II James Gordon,
2 / 31st Bn, Australian Imperial Force

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Africa Star
  • Pacific Star
  • Defence Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • Australia Service Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • War Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ( 1977 )
  • Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
    • "Australia" suspension
  • Commonwealth of Australia Meritorious Service Medal ( 1903-75 )


Lindsay Gordon, the son of Warrant Officer II James Gordon VC, 2 / 31st Bn, Australian Imperial Force, has loaned his father's Second World War Victoria Cross medal group to the Australian War Memorial. It will go on display in the AWM's Hall of Valour.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 28 October 1941 ], Djezzine, Syria, 10 July 1941, Private James Heather Gordon, 2 / 31st Bn, Australian Imperial Force.

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 almost impossible, one officer and two men being killed and two men wounded in the effort to advance.

The enemy machine gun position, which had brought 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 the 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 the operations shown a high degree of courage, fought with equal gallantry.

James Gordon was invested with his Victoria Cross by the Governor General of Australia, Lord Gowrie VC, on the 26th September 1942.


James Gordon died on the 24th July 1986 in Perth, Western Australia, and was cremated in the Karrakatta Crematorium.

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Iain Stewart, 12 May 2016