The story
British Army Sergeant Thomas Derrick won the Victoria Cross in New Guinea after volunteering to go out alone to tackle Japanese gun positions. He destroyed 10 with grenades, enabling the Australian advance to continue. Derrick did not live to receive the medal, dying from wounds sustained in a later action in Borneo in May 1945.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.