John Neil Randle
Encyclopedia
John Niel Randle VC
(22 December 1917 – 6 May 1944) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
He was educated at the Dragon School
, Marlborough College
, and Oxford University. At Oxford he qualified in Law and his best friend was Leonard Cheshire
. He married Mavis Ellen Manser of Holywell, Oxford
, sister of Leslie Thomas Manser
VC.
in May 1940. At the age of 26, he was promoted to Temporary Captain whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Captain Randle was commander of 'B' Company of the Norfolks. On 4 May 1944 during the Battle of Kohima
in North East India, he was ordered to attack the Japanese flank on GPT Ridge during the relief and clearance of Kohima. The citation from the London Gazette
reads:
.
A memorial to Captain Randle is in St Peter's Church, Petersham
.
by his son John. It is displayed alongside that of his friend Leonard Cheshire
.
in the 2006
television docudrama
Victoria Cross Heroes
, which included archive footage, dramatisations of his actions and an interview with his son and grandson.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(22 December 1917 – 6 May 1944) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Early life
John Niel Randle was born in India, the son of Dr. Herbert Niel Randle and Edith Randle (née Whitby).He was educated at the Dragon School
Dragon School
The Dragon School is a British coeducational, preparatory school in the city of Oxford, founded in 1877 as the Oxford Preparatory School, or OPS. It is primarily known as a boarding school, although it also takes day pupils...
, Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and Oxford University. At Oxford he qualified in Law and his best friend was Leonard Cheshire
Leonard Cheshire
Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War....
. He married Mavis Ellen Manser of Holywell, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, sister of Leslie Thomas Manser
Leslie Thomas Manser
Leslie Thomas Manser VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
VC.
Military career
John Niel Randle was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Norfolk RegimentRoyal Norfolk Regiment
The Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The Norfolk Regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as the county regiment of Norfolk...
in May 1940. At the age of 26, he was promoted to Temporary Captain whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Captain Randle was commander of 'B' Company of the Norfolks. On 4 May 1944 during the Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
in North East India, he was ordered to attack the Japanese flank on GPT Ridge during the relief and clearance of Kohima. The citation from the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
reads:
.
A memorial to Captain Randle is in St Peter's Church, Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is on loan to the Imperial War MuseumImperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
by his son John. It is displayed alongside that of his friend Leonard Cheshire
Leonard Cheshire
Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War....
.
In the media
Randle was portrayed by Tom HiddlestonTom Hiddleston
Thomas William "Tom" Hiddleston is an English actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Loki in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Thor.-Early life and education:...
in the 2006
2006 in television
2006 in television may refer to:*2006 in American television*2006 in Australian television*2006 in British television*2006 in Canadian television*2006 in Japanese television...
television docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
Victoria Cross Heroes
Victoria Cross Heroes
Victoria Cross Heroes is a three-part television docudrama recipients first broadcast by Five in 2006 that tells the stories of some of the recipients of the Victoria Cross.-Production:...
, which included archive footage, dramatisations of his actions and an interview with his son and grandson.