Date of birth:

September 29th, 1915

Date of death:

June 10th, 1995

Service number:

P/265839

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Reginald Rutherford was a British private and NCO with 6th Bn Northamptonshire Regt, 223rd Independent Infantry Bde (Home) in GB, 1940-1942;
Subsequently he was commissioned (5-3-1943) as 2nd Lieutenant and served with B Coy, 2nd Bn East Yorkshire Regt (The Duke of York's Own), 8th Infantry Bde, 3rd Infantry Div in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945.

He landed on Sword Beach on D Day with the Regiment and was involved in the advance through Western Europe.

His brother Sergeant John Rutherford was lost on operation with 217 Sqdn, RAF during an attack on Brest, France on 1/2/1941.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Major

Unit:

2nd Yorkshire Regiment, 8th Battalion Infantry Brigade, British Army

Awarded on:

March 1st, 1945

Citation:
"During the attack on VENRAY on 16/17 Oct 44, this Officer commanded a company, which was given the task of clearing and capturing an area in the centre of the town.
There was determined resistance from the enemy holding the town and heavy artillery fire was encountered during the attack. By determined leadership Capt. Rutherford fought from house to house and finally captured his objective at dusk. Unable to communicate bit Bn HQ or to gain touch with flank units, this Officer on his own initiative continued to press forward to the Bn final objective on the Eastern side of the town. It was now dark and confused fighting took place throughout the night, the enemy fighting desperately to stem the advance. But by his personal courage, leadership and initiative this Officer gained the final objective at daylight. By his gallant action he greatly facilitated the final capture of the town. Throughout the action, Capt. Ruther ford was continually under fire and took part in several hand to hand encounters with the enemy in the streets.
In view of the fact that this Coy had lost all its Officers and CSM in a previous action a few days previously and this Officer had only just been posted to it to command, his leadership was most outstanding."

Medal presented by Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery at Monastry Theatre Gemert on 11 December, 1944.

17 June 1944 WO 171/1397 - 2 East Yorkshire Regiment
Posn still held and first night recce patrol led by Lt Rutherford was sent out to discover strength of enemy in CHATEAU DE LA LANDE. Some posns were identified but were obviously alternate posns and any effort on our part to discover infm were treated with heavy SA fire from all sides and heavy shell fire. Cas sustained:- 2 O.Rs wounded.

17 October 1944 WO 171/1397 - 2 East Yorkshire Regiment
B Coy moved in behind A Coy, who had reached the brewery at 778272, and moved fwd, but owing to darkness coming on, were unable to continue, and took up a posn for the night. D Coy, under Capt Rutherford had by now also reached the town, and Capt Rutherford, finding that the opposition was decreasing, decided to push on past his coy’s objective. D Coy thus reached the town centre of VENRAIJ ahead of the other coys, and were engaged in confused house to house fighting around the town square until 0400 hrs in the morning. Enemy patrols of 7/8 men entered VENRAIJ frequently during the night and added to the difficulty of clearing the streets. Hy shelling of the town by the enemy continued throughout the night.

11 December 1944 WO 171/1397 - 2 East Yorkshire Regiment
C Coy – Major R. Rutherford – M.C.

• Photo 1: David Maxwell
• - Group photo.
  - Recommendation for Award for Rutherford, Reginald Rank: Lieutenant, Acting Major... | The National Archives
  - Imperial War Museums
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35997/supplement/1953