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Adam Herbert Wakenshaw (born in Duke Street Newcastle upon Tyne on 9 June 1914) ,was 28 years old, and a private in the 9th Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, British Army during the Second World War, and was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions on 27 June 1942 in Mersa Matruh, Egypt, where he was killed in combat.-
In June 1942 at Mersa Matruh on the Egyptian coast 9 DLI (Durham Light Infantry) was part of a force trying to stop the German advance. Before dawn on 27 June, 9 DLI lay in wait behind boulders and low stone walls. In front of them were 9 DLI's 2-pounder anti-tank guns. Each of the four guns had its own crew. One of those included Private Adam Wakenshaw. The German infantry attacked just after 5 o'clock, supported by tanks and artillery. As they advanced, a tracked vehicle towing a gun came within range of Adam Wakenshaws anti-tank gun. His gun opened fire and hit the vehicle but another German gun returned fire and all the soldiers manning the anti-tank guns, including Adam, were killed or wounded. With the DLI's anti-tank guns silenced, German soldiers moved towards their damaged vehicle and gun in an attempt to bring it back into action. Pte Eric Mohn and Adam Wakenshaw crawled back to their gun in a bid to stop the Germans opening up on the exposed infantry ,at this point the DLI gun received a second direct hit killing Pte Mohn and once again inflicting serious wounds on Pte Wakenshaw Unbelievably, he once again dragged himself over the rocky ground and back to his place by the gun. As he was placing one more round in the breech and preparing to fire, another direct hit killed him and silenced his gun for ever. After that, there was nothing to prevent the German attack and within a few hours the Durhams were surrounded. On that day, 9 DLI lost 20 men killed and 300 taken prisoner.-
Dorothy Wakenshaw and their eight year-old son Thomas went to Buckingham Palace on March 4, 1943, to receive Adam Wakenshaws medal from King George VI; the King pinned the medal on Thomas`s chest.
In June 1942 at Mersa Matruh on the Egyptian coast 9 DLI (Durham Light Infantry) was part of a force trying to stop the German advance. Before dawn on 27 June, 9 DLI lay in wait behind boulders and low stone walls. In front of them were 9 DLI's 2-pounder anti-tank guns. Each of the four guns had its own crew. One of those included Private Adam Wakenshaw. The German infantry attacked just after 5 o'clock, supported by tanks and artillery. As they advanced, a tracked vehicle towing a gun came within range of Adam Wakenshaws anti-tank gun. His gun opened fire and hit the vehicle but another German gun returned fire and all the soldiers manning the anti-tank guns, including Adam, were killed or wounded. With the DLI's anti-tank guns silenced, German soldiers moved towards their damaged vehicle and gun in an attempt to bring it back into action. Pte Eric Mohn and Adam Wakenshaw crawled back to their gun in a bid to stop the Germans opening up on the exposed infantry ,at this point the DLI gun received a second direct hit killing Pte Mohn and once again inflicting serious wounds on Pte Wakenshaw Unbelievably, he once again dragged himself over the rocky ground and back to his place by the gun. As he was placing one more round in the breech and preparing to fire, another direct hit killed him and silenced his gun for ever. After that, there was nothing to prevent the German attack and within a few hours the Durhams were surrounded. On that day, 9 DLI lost 20 men killed and 300 taken prisoner.-
Dorothy Wakenshaw and their eight year-old son Thomas went to Buckingham Palace on March 4, 1943, to receive Adam Wakenshaws medal from King George VI; the King pinned the medal on Thomas`s chest.