Reginald Stanley Judson
Born 29 Sept 1881 - Died 26 Aug 1972
- Service number
- WWI 24/1699 AWMM
- WWII 800942 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Inter War Captain/Military AWMM New Zealand Army AWMM
- WW2 Major/Military AWMM Home Service Section AWMM
- War
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Reginald Stanley AWMM
- Surname
- Judson AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWI 24/1699 AWMM
- WWII 800942 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 29 Sept 1881 AWMM
- 29 Sept 1881 Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
- Soldier/Military AWMM
- Next of kin
- WW1 Mrs Ethel May Judson (wife), Waiatarua, Waikumete, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 08 Jan 1916 AWMM Married AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 24/1699 AWMM
- WWII 800942 AWMM
- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
Gazetted on 30 October 1918: No. 24/1699 Sergeant Reginald Stanley Judson, D.C.M., M.M., Auckland R., N.Z.F. "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, in an attack on enemy positions, he led a small bombing party under heavy fire and captured an enemy machine-gun. He then proceeded up a sap alone, bombing three machine-gun crews before him. Jumping out of the trench he ran ahead of the enemy. Then, standing on the parapet, he ordered the party, consisting of two officers and about ten men, to surrender. They instantly fired on him, but he threw a bomb and jumped down amongst them, killed two, put the rest to flight, and so captured two machine guns. This prompt and gallant action not only saved many lives, but also enabled the advance to be continued unopposed." (London Gazette, 30 October 1918) AWMM - Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy positions. He led a patrol along a sap leading to the enemy. This patrol forced the enemy to retreat before their bombs for a distance of 600 yards and so enabled the troops who were following to garrison and hold the captured trench. He was indefatigable in organising the trench during the next twenty-four hours under heavy bomb and machine gun fire, and personally bombed the enemy out of an angle in the sap where they were collecting. The work of this NCO throughout was splendid, and his courage and enthusiasm inspired all near him.' - 'London Gazette'- 30/10/1918 AWMM - Military Medal (MM) AWMM
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field on the night of the 16/17th inst. in front of Puisieux-au-Mont. During the attack in co-operation with the 37th Division on enemy positions north of Crayfish and Paku Trenches and as far east as the Buoquay-Puisieux-au-Mont Road this NCO exhibited courage of the highest degree. The sections with whom he was encountered machine gun fire of an intense nature. This fire was replied to by the fire of a Lewis Gun and in order to enable the troops on our left to advance it was essential that the enemy machine guns should be taken at once. It was obvious that if an attempt were made to outflank the guns the delay occassioned thereby would result in the troops on our left probably suffering severe casualties. Realising that a frontal attack was necessary this NCO with the greatest of initiative and daring rushed straight for the machine gun nest, followed by his sections. The rapidity and daring of his action so disheartened the enemy that in spite of the unprotected nature of the attack three machine guns and 17 prisoners were captured without loss on our side. The daring and courage and skilful tactics of this NCO is beyond praise. For the success of an operation he exposes himself in positions of the greatest danger without regard to his personal safety, and as a leader and inspirer of men he has no superior.' - 'London Gazette'- 11/12/1918 AWMM - British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Victory Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 AWMM
- Coronation Medal 1937 AWMM
- Coronation Medal ER 1953 AWMM
- New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal AWMM
- Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW1 1915 AWMM Boilermaker/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 08 Jan 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 38 or HMNZT 39 AWMM Vessel was Tahiti or Warrimoo AWMM Rifleman AWMM 3rd Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion, F Company AWMM New Zealand Rifle Brigade AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Badly wounded 15 September 1916 AWMM - Height, WWI AWMM
5' 6.5" AWMM
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Inter War 1937 AWMM
Retired AWMM
Captain/Military AWMM
New Zealand Army AWMM - WW2 Unknown AWMM
Retired AWMM
Major/Military AWMM
Home Service Section AWMM
- Inter War 1937 AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Husband of Ethel May (nee Grice) and Kate Marion (nee Lewis); father of Vera, Edgar, Reginald Frank, Raymond and Claire.
Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 14 February 1919.
His medals were stolen from Waiouru Army Museum 2 December 2007, they were recovered some time later
Major Judson's sword was presented to Dylan Judson, great-great-grandson of Reginald Judson, by Nigel Lyndsay at Henderson (Auckland) RSA on Anzac Day 2012. See Western Leader, 3 May 2012, page 9.
His medals are held by the National Army Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand
Medals: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal AWMM
About death
- Death
- 26 Aug 1972 AWMM
Age 90 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Soldiers Burial M Row 13, Plot 69 AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- Victoria Cross commemorative paving stone at the National Memorial Aboretum, Staffordshire, EnglandPublic - Sarndra - Researcher - 29 November 2015 - Personal visit
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Memorial tree, Oak and plaque, Reginald Stanley Judson VC, Stockade Hill, Howick, Auckland AWMM
- Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
- Oratia School First World War Memorial, Shaw Road, Oratia Auckland 0604 AWMM
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22311766
Further Reference - Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23559790
Further Reference - Military Personnel Files (Gallantry medal recipients)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523707
Further Reference - Probate, Auckland Regional Office
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R13094502
Further Reference - National Army Museum, Waiouru
http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/
Further Reference - National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait, by Francis McCracken, of Sergeant R S Judson, VC, DCM, MM, 1920-1921. Ref: AAAC 898 NCWA 518.
http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/274
Further Reference - Birkenhead (Auckland) Returned Services Association website. Victoria Cross.
http://www.birkenheadrsa.com/victoria-cross.html
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, NZ History online. Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
Further Reference - Dye, S. (2006, April 26). From a royal acorn, VC's oak tree grows. New Zealand Herald.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10378965
Further Reference - Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Reginald Judson War Memorial oak on Stockade Hill, Howick.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/reginald-judson-memorial-oak-0
Further Reference - Births, Deaths and Marriages (New Zealand) Historical Records online
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
Sources Used - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7308877
Further Reference - London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30982/supplement/12802
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
- Polaschek, A. (1983). The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, N.Z.: Medals Research.
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
16: 8 - The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
p. 173 - London Gazette
London Gazette. Issue 30982 - Auckland Museum Armoury Resource Centre, Biographical vertical file
- Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
p.123-125 - Western Leader
3 May 2012, p.9 - NZEF Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra
- Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 2: Includes portrait - Central Leader
Reminder of School's own war hero in time for ANZAC Day, 23 Apr 2010 - Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.
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