Tasker Watkins
Tasker Watkins (VC, GBE) is a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details He was 25 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 1/5th Bn., The Welsh Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.
Further information Later Sir Tasker Watkins. He is a living recipient. He later achieved the rank of Major.
The medal please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed
ReferenceBritish VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
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External links
This page has been from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
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