Stan Woodbridge
|
Stanley James Woodbridge
GC
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 29 August 1921 |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Rank | Flight Sergeant |
| Service number | 1393806 |
| Unit | No. 159 Squadron RAF |
| Awards |  George Cross |
Flight Sergeant Stanley James Woodbridge, GC (29 August 1921 – 7 February 1945), known as Stan Woodbridge,[1] was a British World War II recipient of the George Cross. He was born in Chelsea, London, and during World War II served as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, with No. 159 Squadron RAF.
Woodbridge was captured by Japanese forces along with five other members of his crew, when their Consolidated Liberator aircraft crashed in Burma.[2] Woodbridge, who was the crew's wireless operator, was subjected to torture, and was eventually beheaded along with the three other non-commissioned officers from his crew. The two commissioned officers from the crew were taken to Rangoon Jail and found alive when Rangoon was liberated. Throughout his ordeal, Woodbridge refused to give information to his Japanese captors, about his codes or radio equipment.
In 1948, Woodbridge was posthumously awarded the George Cross, in recognition of his courage and devotion to duty.
Woodbridge is buried at the Rangoon War Cemetery.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission - 1393806 Flt Sgt S J Woodbirdge GC
References
- London Gazette archive
- George Cross (GC) Database - Highest civilian gallantry award at www.gc-database.co.uk
- GC Holders at www.rafweb.org Stanley James Woodbridge
- http://www.airscene.org/monument/GCawards.htm#woodbridge
- A BARBAROUS ENEMY at www.rquirk.com Details of the atrocity
- GC Awards to Jap POWs at www.stephen-stratford.co.uk
- Use dmy dates from September 2012
- Use British English from September 2012
- Pages using Template:Post-nominals with missing parameters
- 1921 births
- 1945 deaths
- Royal Air Force airmen
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- British recipients of the George Cross
- Royal Air Force recipients of the George Cross
- British military personnel killed in World War II
- English people murdered abroad
- Japanese war crimes
- People from Chelsea, London
- Deaths by decapitation
- British people murdered abroad
- People murdered in Myanmar
- Prisoners who died in Japanese detention
- English people who died in prison custody
- World War II prisoners of war held by Japan
