Reginald Judson: Three Gallantry Medals in 34 Days

Judson’s Early Years

Reginald Stanley Judson was born in Wharehine, Northland, on 29 September 1881. After an education in England where he distinguished himself in running and boxing, he returned to New Zealand and completed an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer.

He was working as a boilermaker in Auckland when World War I began and he enlisted in the army in October 1915, heading overseas with the 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment. While serving with the Auckland Regiment in France in September 1916, he was seriously wounded and it was not until May 1918, after convalescing in England, that he returned to the front.

However, when he was in England, he unfortunately received the news that his marriage was at an end and this had a profound effect on his state of mind because when he returned to France, he threw himself ‘into his work’ with a silent fury.

In a little over a month, between July and August 1918, Judson won every gallantry medal available to a sergeant at that time.

On 24 and 25 July he led a patrol near Hebuterne which captured a German trench with Judson personally bombing a concentration of the enemy out of an angle where they were rallying for a counter attack. For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

22 days later, on 16 August, he led a bayonet charge against a machine gun nest, capturing two guns and 16 enemy soldiers, and was awarded the Military Medal (MM).

10 days later, on 26 August at Bapaume, Judson led a bombing party under heavy fire to capture an enemy machine gun. This action won him the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, in an attack on enemy positions, he led a small bombing party under heavy fire and captured an enemy machine-gun.

He then proceeded up a sap alone, bombing three machine-gun crews before him. Jumping out of the trench, he ran ahead of the enemy. Then, standing on the parapet, he ordered the enemy party, consisting of two officers and about ten men, to surrender. They instantly fired on him, but he threw a bomb and jumped down amongst them, killed two, put the rest to flight, and so captured two machine guns.

This prompt and gallant action not only saved many lives, but also enabled the advance to continue unopposed.”

After WWI

After being gassed in September, he was sent to England to an officer cadet training unit and was later commissioned. After the war, he returned to New Zealand and continued to serve in the Permanent Staff Corps until January 1938.

With the outbreak of World War II, Judson re-enlisted (lowering his age to do so), and served on the Temporary Staff (Home Service) until 1946, reaching the rank of Major.

In his later years, Judson took up farming in Northland and became involved in local politics in both Auckland and Northland until his death in 1972, at the age of 91. He is buried at the Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland.

We are very proud to have  Reginald Judson’s medals on display at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa. If you wish to see them, they are in the Valour Alcove in our Medal Repository. 

Reginald Judson’s Medals from L-R: Victoria Cross (VC), Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), Military Medal (MM), British War Medal, Victory Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, New Zealand War Service Medal, Coronation Medal 1937, Coronation Medal 1953, New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal.