Awards

  • 23rd April
Bar to Military Cross - Campbell, John Davis
On 23rd April 1945 at MASSA FISCAGLIA (Italy) Capt. Campbell got the information that about 40 Germans were defending a farm. The information emphasised that they were German troops and well dug-in in front of the house, and that they had severel MGs and Panzerfaust. Judging that the risk was too big for a frontal attack with his whole patrol he decided to attack the position with 2 armed jeeps only. In bright daylight and in full view of the enemy the two jeeps charged down the road, surprised the enemy by his devastating fire and his daring, overshot the enemy's first pit, found himself and his vehicle in and amogst the enemies, killed 8 wounded 10 and captured the remainder. On the 29th. at VIGONOVO (Italy) Capt. Campbell saw through his glasses a German 88 mm gun firing on PADUA, he decided to attack it, coming into the village by a side road, he charged the gun with his guns blazing away, captured it intact with complete crew, predictor, ammunition and three truck loads of petrol and supplies.
  • 26th April
Military Medal - Alfred Dennis Cahill
On 26th April 1945 an enemy position locally reported 18 strong was contacted by a PPA Patrol 4 kilos north of Iolanda di Savoia (Italy) at approx. 1100hrs, and being apparently taken by surprise, was attacked. This was done by a dismounted patrol which leaped off the jeeps when they moved to within 20 yds of the house to give covering fire. Dvr Cahill who though with the rank of Dvr. was acting patrol L/Cpl. observed 7 men run out of the back of the house. Regardless of his personal safety he gave chase immediately; 2 of the men ran towards the enemy positions 1000 yds away to the rear; Dvr. Cahill gave chase to the remaining 5, calling on them to surrender. They gave no sign of doing so. Then suddenly they dropped behind cover about 80 yds from Cahill and opened fire on him. Simultaneously 2 MGs opened up from the enemy positions further back;

Cahill, realizing that the presence of 5 snipers at so close a range would be a serious menace to the remainder of the patrol, and with complete disregard for the enemy fire, charged the men, firing from the hip with his tommy gun.

In the subsequent action the German NCO was severely wounded and the remaining 4 surrendered. Cahill retired on the remainder of the patrol with his 4 prisoners covered by the jeeps, which had deployed and opened fire on the enemy MG posts.
  • 29th April
Bar to Military Medal - Donald Galloway
On the village square of DOLO (Italy) on the 29th April 1945, a PPA patrol was engaged by the nearby enemy. Almost immediately the Patrol Commander was wounded, Sgt.Galloway took over command of the patrol, when firing his MG he got wounded himself, he carried on firing until his ammunition was exhausted, then he took a bazooka, walked across the square under heavy fire, fired 3 bombs at a German strongpoint, he was already very weak - returned to his jeep. Then seeing that one man was wounded in another jeep some 15 yds away, again regardless of his own safety he went into the open, helped the wounded to get under cover. Then judging the opposition was too strong, he ordered the patrol to withdraw, he was on the last vehicle to leave the square, and a few minutes later when the whole patrol was safe, he fainted completely exhausted.
Previous page: Roll of Honour
Previous article in the series 'No.1 Demolition Squadron': No.1 Demolition Squadron 1944