"On 24th March, 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted
with his Battalion on to a strongly defended area east of the Rhine. At
about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a
cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies
from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were
killed as they knelt beside the casualty. Without, hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham
went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been
killed before his eyes. As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself
shot through the nose. In spite of severe bleeding and intense pain, he
never faltered in his task. Having completed immediate first aid, he
carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire
to the shelter of a wood. During the next two hours Corporal Topham refused all offers of
medical help for his own wound. He worked most devotedly throughout this
period to bring in wounded, showing complete disregard for the heavy
and accurate enemy fire. It was only when all casualties had been
cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated. His immediate evacuation was ordered, but he interceded so
earnestly on his own behalf that he was eventually allowed to return to
duty. On his way back to his company he came across a carrier, which
had received a direct hit. Enemy mortar bombs were still dropping
around, the carrier itself was burning fiercely and its own mortar
ammunition was exploding. An experienced officer on the spot had warned
all not to approach the carrier. Corporal Topham, however, immediately went out alone in spite of
the blasting ammunition and enemy fire, and rescued the three occupants
of the carrier. He brought these men back across the open and although
one died almost immediately afterwards, he arranged for the evacuation
of the other two, who undoubtedly owe their lives to him.
This N.C.O. showed sustained gallantry of the highest order. For six
hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of acts of
outstanding bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired
all those who witnessed it."
From Cpl. Topham's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on August 3, 1945.
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