Reginald Stanley Judson VC DCM MM

b. 29/09/1881 Wharehine, New Zealand. d. 26/08/1972 Auckland, New Zealand.

Reginald Stanley Judson (1881-1972) was born on 29th September 1881 at Port Albert, Wharehine, Rodney, North Island, New Zealand. His father, Edgar Judson, was originally from Sussex, England, and married Emma Frances Holmden in 1876 in Lewisham, London. She was originally from Kent. They emigrated to New Zealand, where Edgar was a sheep farmer in Port Albert by 1881. They moved to Florida, USA by 1884 and returned to England by 1891. Sadly, Edgar later was admitted to an asylum first in Dartford, Kent, then in Tooting, London, where he died. Reginald had five siblings.

Reginald sailed on his own from London to Port Chalmers, New Zealand aboard SS Kaikoura on 26th June 1890. At the time he was aged just 9. With both parents still alive, there seems no reason why he would be shipped off to the other side of the world, when his siblings remained in Britain. Reginald was educated at Oratia District School, Oratia, Auckland from 12th August 1891 as Stanley Judson. His parent was listed as “F Judson” from Waikomiti. He left to attend Henderson School from 15th September 1892. He completed a mechanical engineering apprenticeship, and was employed as a mechanical engineer and boilermaker at Senior Foundry Co in Auckland, and lived in Ponsonby, Auckland.

Reginald S Judson
VC DCM MM

On 19th April 1905, he married Ethel May Grace at Mareretu, the house of Mrs E J Flower, her sister in Northland. They had four children – Vera (born 1905), Edgar (born 1907), Reginald (born 1911) and Raymond (born 1913).

Reginald enlisted on 19th October 1915 in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was assigned to 9th Reinforcements, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He embarked for Egypt aboard HMNZT 37 Maunganui on 8th January 1916 and transferred to 2nd Auckland on 15th March. Soon after arrival, he transferred again to 15th North Auckland Company, 1st Auckland and sailed for France in April.

He was promoted to temporary lance corporal and then temporary corporal. He was seriously wounded in the abdomen on the Somme on 15th September. It was later discovered he had eight pieces of shrapnel had lodged near his heart. He was evacuated to Britain and admitted to 1st New Zealand General Hospital in Brockenhurst, Hampshire on 27th September. He transferred to A Company, New Zealand Command Depot in Codford, Wiltshire on 3rd February 1917. He remained in Britain until June 1918, when following a promotion to sergeant he returned to the Western Front.

He was awarded the DCM for his actions near Hebuterne, France on 24th July 1918. He led a patrol along a sap and continued bombing the enemy, forcing them to retreat over 500 yards. This enabled the troops who were following to garrison and hold the captured trench. Shortly afterwards he was awarded the Military Medal for his actions near Puisieux-au-Mont, France on 16th August 1918 when he led a bayonet charge against a machine gun nest that was harrassing the Otago Battalion, which was fighting in Ford Wood and Crayfish Trench. Two machine guns and sixteen men were captured.

Finally, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for a series of hazardous raids on the German trenches on 26th August 1918, during the attack against Bapaume. During this attack his daring and ruthlessness were extraordinary: at one stage he mounted a parapet and ordered an enemy machine-gun crew of about 12 men to surrender. When they fired on him he threw a hand grenade in their midst, then single-handedly killed two and put the others to flight, thereby capturing two machine-guns. The Victoria Cross citation concluded that ‘This prompt and gallant action not only saved many lives, but also enabled the advance to be continued unopposed.’ Eight men have been awarded all three major gallantry awards for soldiers, but none achieved it in just 34 days. He was transferred to No 5 Officer Cadet Battalion at Trinity College, Cambridge on 21st October.

Judson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in February 1919 and received his VC, DCM and MM from King George V in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace on 26th February 1919. He was admitted to 2nd New Zealand Hospital in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey suffering from deafness. He embarked for New Zealand on SS Marama on 9th June 1919 and arrived on 28th July. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1st October and joined the Permanent Staff Corps of the New Zealand Military Forces. He was based in Auckland between 1920-29.

Reginald and Ethel divorced in 1920, and he re-married to Kate Marion Lewis nee Bailey on 27th March 1928 in Auckland. His first husband had been killed in the Great War. In July 1924, a medical report stated that Reginald was suffering total nervous exhaustion, and a heart condition was found, resulting from his gas exposure in the war. It was due to this he had two spells of extended sick leave. He was transferred to the Retired List on 31st January 1938.

Judson continued to be troubled by the effects of his war wounds. He then worked as secretary to the principal of Mount Albert Grammar School in 1938 and 1939, and became involved in local politics, serving on the Auckland City Council as a Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association councillor from 1938 to 1947.

At the outbreak of the Second World War Judson re-enlisted for home service (falsifying his year of birth to do so), and served in local posts throughout the war. He was discharged in 1946 having reached the rank of major. One of his sons, Reginald Frank Judson, won the Military Cross during the war, and later became mayor of Manurewa.

After the war Judson moved to Mangonui, Northland, where he farmed at Doubtless Bay. He continued his community activities, serving as a justice of the peace and coroner. At the end of the 1950s he retired to Kohimarama, Auckland. Judson died in Auckland on 26th August 1972, and was buried at the Waikumete Lawn Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. He is commemorated with Judson Barracks at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, with Judson Place in Napier, and is named on the Oratia School War Memorial gates. He also has a VC commemorative stone at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, unveiled on 5th March 2015.

In addition to the VC, DCM and MM, he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, War Medal 1939-45, New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, and New Zealand Long & Efficient Service Medal. The medals were presented to Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum by his daughter, Mrs C Sweeney in 1982. On 2nd December 2007, 96 medals were stolen from the Museum by James Joseph Kapa and Ronald van Wakeren, including nine VCs and two GCs. A $300,000 reward was offered by Lord Ashcroft, and Nelson businessman, Tom Sturgess. The collection was recovered on 16th February 2008 and the medals returned to the Museum in October. Upgrades to security at the Museum cost $1.4 million. The Museum has since been renamed the National Army Museum.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM, WAIOURU, NZ.

BURIAL PLACE: WAIKUMETE CEMETERY, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

SOLDIERS BLOCK M, SECTION 13, PLOT 69.