Temporary Lieutenant John Godwin, RNVR (13 December 1919[1] – 2 February 1945) was a British naval officer. Born and brought up in Argentina, he took part in a raid named Operation Checkmate on Axis shipping near Haugesund, north of Stavanger, Norway.[1] His party managed to sink a minesweeper and a number of steamers using limpet mines, but he was eventually captured with the rest of his party, a commando sergeant, two Naval Petty Officers and three seamen. Initially they were held in Grini concentration camp. This was the same camp where, in January 1943, the Germans executed five commando survivors of Operation Freshman. However, Godwin and his comrades were not executed at Grini, but instead sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where contrary to the Geneva Convention, they were forced to march 30 miles a day on cobbles testing army boots.
John Godwin
Born
(1919-12-13)13 December 1919 Buenos Aires, Argentina
On 2 February 1945 they were led to execution, in accordance with Hitler's Commando Order of 1942. Godwin managed to wrestle the pistol of the firing party commander from his belt and shoot him dead before being himself shot. No superior officer witnessed this act so a decoration could not be awarded. However, his bravery was mentioned in dispatches (posthumously). The citation, in The London Gazette, 9 October 1945, read: "For great gallantry and inspiring example whilst a prisoner of war in German hands in Norway and afterwards at Sachsenhausen, near Oranienburg, Germany, 1942–1945".[2]
Notesedit
^ ab"Operation Checkmate". Commando Veterans Association. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
Reilly, Joanne (1997). "Appendix: Belsen Testimonies". Belsen in History and Memory. Routledge. pp. 216–217. ISBN0-7146-4767-5.
Gilbert, Sir Martin (2004). The Second World War: A Complete History. MacMillan. pp. 637. ISBN0-8050-7623-9.
April 15, 2024
john, godwin, royal, navy, officer, other, people, with, same, name, john, godwin, disambiguation, temporary, lieutenant, john, godwin, rnvr, december, 1919, february, 1945, british, naval, officer, born, brought, argentina, took, part, raid, named, operation,. For other people with the same name see John Godwin disambiguation Temporary Lieutenant John Godwin RNVR 13 December 1919 1 2 February 1945 was a British naval officer Born and brought up in Argentina he took part in a raid named Operation Checkmate on Axis shipping near Haugesund north of Stavanger Norway 1 His party managed to sink a minesweeper and a number of steamers using limpet mines but he was eventually captured with the rest of his party a commando sergeant two Naval Petty Officers and three seamen Initially they were held in Grini concentration camp This was the same camp where in January 1943 the Germans executed five commando survivors of Operation Freshman However Godwin and his comrades were not executed at Grini but instead sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp where contrary to the Geneva Convention they were forced to march 30 miles a day on cobbles testing army boots John GodwinBorn 1919 12 13 13 December 1919Buenos Aires ArgentinaDied2 February 1945 1945 02 02 aged 25 Sachsenhausen concentration camp Oranienburg Nazi GermanyAllegiance United KingdomService wbr branch Royal NavyRankTemporary Lieutenant RNVRUnitNo 14 Arctic CommandoAwardsWorld War II Commando actions Commando actions in Norway Operation Checkmate POW Nazi concentration camps Sachsenhausen concentration camp On 2 February 1945 they were led to execution in accordance with Hitler s Commando Order of 1942 Godwin managed to wrestle the pistol of the firing party commander from his belt and shoot him dead before being himself shot No superior officer witnessed this act so a decoration could not be awarded However his bravery was mentioned in dispatches posthumously The citation in The London Gazette 9 October 1945 read For great gallantry and inspiring example whilst a prisoner of war in German hands in Norway and afterwards at Sachsenhausen near Oranienburg Germany 1942 1945 2 Notes edit a b Operation Checkmate Commando Veterans Association Retrieved 25 January 2011 No 37299 The London Gazette Supplement 5 October 1945 p 4954 Sources editVolunteers from Argentina who gave their lives in WWII Memorial CWGC entry M R D Foot amp J M Langley 1979 MI9 Escape and Evasion 1939 1945 London Book Club Associates London 1979 pp 154 155 ISBN 0 316 28840 3 Reilly Joanne 1997 Appendix Belsen Testimonies Belsen in History and Memory Routledge pp 216 217 ISBN 0 7146 4767 5 Gilbert Sir Martin 2004 The Second World War A Complete History MacMillan pp 637 ISBN 0 8050 7623 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Godwin Royal Navy officer amp oldid 1166894436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
