Stan Woodbridge

Stanley James Woodbridge
Stanley James Woodbridge
Born	29 August 1921; Chelsea, London, England
Died	7 February 1945 (aged 23); British Burma
Buried	Rangoon War Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Rank	Flight Sergeant
Service number	1393806
Unit	No. 159 Squadron RAF
Battles / wars	Second World War Pacific War Burma campaign Burma campaign 1945 ; ; ;
Awards	George Cross

Flight Sergeant Stanley James Woodbridge, GC (29 August 1921 – 7 February 1945), known as Stan Woodbridge,^[1] was a British Second World War recipient of the George Cross. He was born in Chelsea, London, and during the Second World War served as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, with No. 159 Squadron RAF.

Second World War

Woodbridge was captured by Japanese forces along with five other members of his crew, when their Consolidated Liberator aircraft crashed in Burma. The three other members of the crew, including former rugby player Les Adams, were killed.^[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.^[3]

Woodbridge is buried at the Rangoon War Cemetery.^[4]

Notes

^ Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010
^ "Aircrew Remembered". Retrieved 14 March 2013.
^ Casey, William, ed. (29 September 1948). "Posthumous George Cross". The Times. No. 51189. p. 2. ISSN 0140-0460.
^ 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.com

[1] Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010

[Aircrew-2] "Aircrew Remembered". Retrieved 14 March 2013.

[3] Casey, William, ed. (29 September 1948). "Posthumous George Cross". The Times. No. 51189. p. 2. ISSN 0140-0460.

[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission – 1393806 Flt Sgt S J Woodbirdge GC

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