- SURNAME
Jennings
- FORENAME
John Albert (Jack)
- UNIT
1 Regiment (4 Company)
- RANK
Lieutenant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Military Cross
- PLACE
Italy 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Canada
from St Thomas,Ontario
Jenning in one source (error)
CITATION:
Military Cross : At 0100 hrs 6th January 1944 near Radicossa, Italy, Lieut. Jennings was given an assignment to lead & patrol of twenty men, two thousand (2,000) yards into enemy territory. His orders were to comb an area, one thousand (1,000) yards wide to obtain as much information as to enemy strength and disposition as possible and report this to his commanding officer prior to 0800 hrs. This information was required by the Corps Commander by 0900 hrs. as a basis for additional plans of attack.
The weather was below freezing, it was snowing and a high wind blowing. The terrain was mountainous. Enemy morale fair, our morale high.
The patrol met its first enemy outpost about two thousand (2,000) yards from its starting point, it maintained contact with the enemy and took six (6) prisoners who were sent to the rear with three members of the patrol.
Lieut Jennings then made a personal reconnaissance alone, reformed his patrol for a fighting role, another outpost was encountered, the sentry killed and the enemy alerted. The patrol continued killing four, wounding possibly three and taking twelve prisoners, it had overrun the outer defences and after reconnaissance Lieut. Jennings realized the enemy were there in strength and started to withdraw.
The patrol was organized for a fighting withdrawal. Lieut Jennings remained nearest the enemy and personally saw that all his men and prisoners returned in safety. By his courage and control of the situation he was able to lead his patrol throughout the entire operation without a single casualty and did this entirely disregarding his own safety.
The latter part of this withdrawal was made in daylight; runners were dispatched to a forward artillery outpost and a heavy concentration of fire was laid on the enemy positions encountered.
By 0800 hrs. Lieut. Jennings had made his report to his Commanding Officer which was passed to higher headquarters as requested and on time.
The weather was below freezing, it was snowing and a high wind blowing. The terrain was mountainous. Enemy morale fair, our morale high.
The patrol met its first enemy outpost about two thousand (2,000) yards from its starting point, it maintained contact with the enemy and took six (6) prisoners who were sent to the rear with three members of the patrol.
Lieut Jennings then made a personal reconnaissance alone, reformed his patrol for a fighting role, another outpost was encountered, the sentry killed and the enemy alerted. The patrol continued killing four, wounding possibly three and taking twelve prisoners, it had overrun the outer defences and after reconnaissance Lieut. Jennings realized the enemy were there in strength and started to withdraw.
The patrol was organized for a fighting withdrawal. Lieut Jennings remained nearest the enemy and personally saw that all his men and prisoners returned in safety. By his courage and control of the situation he was able to lead his patrol throughout the entire operation without a single casualty and did this entirely disregarding his own safety.
The latter part of this withdrawal was made in daylight; runners were dispatched to a forward artillery outpost and a heavy concentration of fire was laid on the enemy positions encountered.
By 0800 hrs. Lieut. Jennings had made his report to his Commanding Officer which was passed to higher headquarters as requested and on time.
WEB LINKS:
https://dhh-dhp.forces.gc.ca/cao-aco/details-en.asp?firstname=John%20Albert&lastname=Jennings&rec=id2555
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