Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Long Range Penetration Groups (Chindits), British Indian Army

Awarded on:

August 5th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Long Range Penetration Groups (Chindits), British Indian Army

Awarded on:

April 26th, 1945

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Long Range Penetration Groups (Chindits), British Indian Army

Awarded on:

May 20th, 1949

Citation:
"On 5 March 1944, 77 Independent Infantry Brigade, of which the 1st South Staffordshire Regiment formed a part, landed by glider at Broadway (Burma). On 12 March 1944, columns from the South Staffordshire Regiment and 3/6 Gurkha Rifles established a road and rail block across the Japanese lines of communication at Henu Block. The Japanese counter-attacked this position heavily in the early morning of 13 March 1944, and the South Staffordshire Regiment was ordered to attack a hill-top which formed the basis of the Japanese attack. During this action, in which Lieutenant CAIRNS took a foremost part, he was attacked by a Japanese officer, who, with his sword, hacked off Lieutenant CAIRNS [sic] left arm. Lieutenant CAIRNS killed this Officer; picked up the sword and continued to lead his men in the attack and slashing left and right with the captured sword killed and wounded several Japanese before he himself fell to the ground. Lieutenant CAIRNS subsequently died from his wounds. His action so inspired all his comrades that, later the Japanese were completely routed, a very rare occurrence at that time"

Lieutenant Cairns Victoria Cross is on public display at the Museum of The Staffordshire Regiment, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Great Britain.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, Long Range Penetration Groups (Chindits), British Indian Army

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)