British VC's of World War 2: A Study in Heroism

by John Laffin

No other military decoration in the world has the prestige of the Victoria Cross and none is harder to win. It is a remarkable paradox that the bronze VC is the plainest of all British decorations and intrinsically the cheapest - at one time the bronze in a VC was worth threepence - yet among servicemen it is the most highly prized.
During the Second World War 106 members of the British armed forces were awarded VCs. In order of Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve - 23; the Army - 61; the Royal Air Force - 22. The names of many and the actions in which they won their award became the talk of the Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee RN at the Battle of Narvik, Wing Commander Guy Gibson the Dambuster, and Warrant Officer Peter Wright of the Coldstream Guards, whose DCM was converted to a VC on the 'suggestion' of King George VI. It is significant that almost half of these 106 awards were made posthumously. Put another way, during the Second World War the chances of performing an act of courage considered worthy of a VC and of living to receive it were 50:50.
In British VCs of World War 2 John Laffin looks at each gallant deed that led to the award of a VC in the context of the war and the land, sea or air campaign in which it was won. In what way did any particular exploit affect the outcome of a larger action? Was it more difficult to win a VC in a jungle campaign than in a desert? What made the award of a VC for a submarine or aerial action different from those earned on the ground or at sea - for assuredly they were different. The author answers all of these questions and many others besides.

258 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

John Laffin was a prolific author with nearly 130 books to his name. Many of his books concerned military history.

Laffin's parents both served in WWI, his father in the 20th Battalion and his mother as a nurse. In 1940, aged 24, having worked with Smith's Weekly and The Wagga Advertiser, he enlisted in the 2nd AIF. He trained as an infantryman and later completed an officer course before serving in New Guinea. While convalescing in Sydney in 1943 he met his wife Hazelle.

After the war Laffin worked for a number of newspapers and magazines, wrote short novels and began his own feature service and editing unit. With his family he left for England in 1956 where he resided for nearly 40 years. He wrote articles for Australian newspapers and taught English, history and geography in secondary colleges.

Laffin traveled extensively in Europe, especially the Western Front areas of WWI and in the Middle East. He returned to Australia in 1995 but Hazelle developed heart problems and died in early 1997. He is survived by his two daughters, Bronwen and Pirenne, and a son, Craig.