Frank Jefferson
{{Short description|English Victoria Cross recipient (1921-1982)}}{{ref improve|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Francis Arthur Jefferson
|honorific_suffix=VC
|image=Frank Jefferson VC.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=Frank Jefferson with his parents after receiving his medal.
|birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1921|8|18}}
|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1982|9|4|1921|8|18}}
|birth_place=Ulverston, Lancashire, England
|death_place=Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
|placeofburial=
|nickname="Frank"
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=1942−1946
1950−1951
|servicenumber=3663590
|rank=Lance Corporal
|unit=Lancashire Fusiliers
Northamptonshire Regiment
|commands=
|battles=Second World War
|awards=30px Victoria Cross
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Lance Corporal Francis Arthur Jefferson VC (18 August 1921 – 4 September 1982) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. It was awarded for his actions at the Battle of Monte Cassino in mid-1944 during the gruelling Italian campaign of the Second World War.
Details
Jefferson was 22 years old, and a fusilier in the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
File:Francis Arthur Jefferson VC Fusilier.jpg]]
On 16 May 1944, during an attack on the Gustav Line, Monte Cassino, Italy, the leading company of Fusilier Jefferson's battalion had to dig in without protection. The enemy counter-attacked opening fire at short range, and Fusilier Jefferson on his own initiative seized a PIAT and, running forward under a hail of bullets, fired on the leading tank. It burst into flames and its crew were killed. The fusilier then reloaded and went towards the second tank which withdrew before he could get within range. By this time, British tanks had arrived and the enemy counter-attack was smashed.{{London Gazette |issue= 36605|date=11 July 1944|page=3273|supp=y}}
Francis Jefferson's Victoria Cross was stolen in January 1982 during a burglary at his mother's home at Luton Street, Bolton, Lancashire. The VC has never been recovered.
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Whitworth|first=Alan|title=VCs of the North: Cumbria, Durham & Northumberland |year=2015|publisher=Pen and Sword Books|isbn=978-1473848221}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk/pop/jefferson.html Frank Jefferson on the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum website]
- [http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/feature/jefferson/Frankjeffersonvc.htm Frank Jefferson's page on the Lancashire Fusilier Website.]
http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aastolen.htm
{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jefferson, Francis Arthur}}
Category:People from Ulverston
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:Lancashire Fusiliers soldiers
Category:British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Railway accident deaths in England
Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross