James Ockendon
| James Ockendon | |
|---|---|
James Ockendon VC MM painted by Eric Kennington in 1943
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| Born |
10 December 1890 Portsmouth, Hampshire |
| Died | 29 August 1966 (aged 75) Southsea, Hampshire |
| Buried at | Porchester Crematorium |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
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| Service/branch |
 British Army
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| Years of service | 1909 - 1918 |
| Rank | Company Sergeant Major |
| Unit | The Royal Dublin Fusiliers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards |
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James Ockendon VC, MM (10 December 1890 – 29 August 1966) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was one of nine children born to Alfred and Mary Ockendon at 56, Alfred Street, Landport. He attended St Agatha’s School, following which he worked for Chalcraft’s, a drapers in Russell Street, Portsmouth. After working here for five years he joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1909 as a private. After completing his basic training at the Victoria Barracks in Southsea he served in India. During World War I Ockendon saw action in Turkey during the Gallipoli Campaign where, on 24 April 1915, he landed with his battalion on ‘V’ beach and received a bullet wound to his forehead.
Following his recuperation he served in Egypt. While on leave he married Caroline ("Carrie") Anne at St Luke’s Church in Portsmouth on August 20, 1917. They had four children. Soon after his marriage he joined the First Battalion at the Western Front in France where he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on 28 September 1917 during the opening stages of the Third Battle of Ypres.
Ockendon was 26 years old and a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers, British Army when the following deed led to the award of the Victoria Cross. On 4 October 1917 east of Langemarck, Belgium, Sergeant Ockendon was acting as company sergeant-major. Seeing the platoon on the right held up by an enemy machine-gun, he immediately rushed the gun and captured it, killing the crew. He then led a section to the attack on a farm, where under very heavy fire he rushed forward and called on the garrison to surrender. As the enemy continued to fire on him he opened fire, killing four, whereupon the remaining 16 surrendered.
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