THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO SERGEANT JOHN READITT, 6TH BN, SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SPINK OF LONDON.
27 April 2000


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Sergeant John Readitt,
6th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • ( Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 ))
  • Medal of Military Valour ( Italy )

The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Sergeant John Readitt, 6th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment, have been sold at auction by Spink of London. The VC group realised a sale hammer price of £40,000. The John Readitt VC group was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The medal group has gone on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 5 July 1917 ], Alqayat-al-Gaharbigah Bend, Mesopotamia, 25 February 1917, Private John Readitt, 6th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty ( Alqayat-al-Gaharbigah Bend, Mesopotamia ) when working down a broad, deep water-course.

Five times he went forward in the face of very heavy machine gun fire at very close range, being the sole survivor on each occasion. These advances drove back the enemy machine guns, and about 300 yards of water-course was made good in an hour.

After his officer had been killed Private Readitt, on his own initiative, organised and made several more advances. On reaching the enemy barricade, he was forced by a counter-attack to retire, giving ground slowly and continuing to throw bombs. On supports reaching him, he held a forward bend by bombing until the position was consolidated.

The action of this gallant soldier saved the left flank and enabled his Battalion to maintain its position.

John Readitt was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 26 November 1919.


John Readitt died on the 9 June 1964 in Manchester and was buried in the city's Gorton Cemetery.

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 27 April 2000