Commemoration in War Hero's Honour
A Second World War hero from Croydon has been honoured in the form of an award to recognise the attributes of pupils at his former school.
The first George Knowland Certificate of Merit was launched at Elmwood Junior School at the beginning of this year and commends youngsters who have shown examples of selflessness.
Lieutenant George Knowland was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross - Britain's highest military award conspicuous bravery - for sacrificing himself in a fierce two-day fight against the Japanese in Burma in 1945.
An entry in the London Gazette on April 1945 describes Lt Knowland's relentless and heroic assault on Japanese troops as he commanded a platoon under heavy fire. It says: "In spite of the ferocity of the attacks he moved about encouraging his men and throwing grenades at the enemy, often from completely exposed positions. "When the crew of one of his forward bren guns had been wounded, he manned the gun himself, standing on the top of the trench firing and keeping the enemy at a distance until another crew took over.
"Later he took over a 2-inch mortar and in spite of heavy enemy fire stood in the open firing from the hip, inflicting heavy casualties."
Lt Knowland continued his persistent fight against the enemy until he was shot and killed himself, aged 22.
Inspired by his heroism, Lt Knowland's men held on through a further twelve hours of fierce combat until reinforcements arrived.
Seventeen months after his death on January 31, 1945, Lt Knowland's wife Ruby went to Buckingham Palace to receive her hushband's Victoria Cross from King George VI.
She subsequently gave the VC to George's father, who went on to become a pub landlord.
The medal was on display at his Finsbury pub when it was stolen in 1958. It has never been recovered.
In July 2001, the Commando Association were made aware that Lt Knowland's former school, Elmwood Junior School, in Constance Road, had only a small plate on display in commemoration of their pupil.
The secretary of the association's London and Home Counties branch contacted the school's head teacher, Heather Jones, and between them they dreamed up the idea of an annual award on 31st January, to mark the anniversary of his death.
The George Knowland Certificate of Merit will now be presented to the Elmwood pupil who most exhibits the lieutenant's example of selflessness.