- SURNAME
Vickers
- FORENAME
Harry Cedric
- UNIT
2 SAS (C Squadron)
- RANK
Lance Sergeant (A/Sergeant)
- NUMBER
324359
- AWARD
Distinguished Conduct Medal
- PLACE
Normandy 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Army Air Corps
former Royal Engineers (Bomb Disposal Section)
born Cheshire
2 SAS 1944-45
WIA 1945
died 27.09.2007
CITATION:
Distinguished Conduct Medal : During the course of operations in FRANCE, Sgt. Vickers was a troop sergeant in a squadron of jeeps fitted with machine guns operating against withdrawing enemy convoys behind the German front.
Throughout the operation which began at ORLEANS and ended in VOSGES, lasting 5 weeks, Sgt. Vickers distinguished himself by a grim determination to inflict casualties upon the enemy. His jeep alone accounted for some twenty enemy vehicles and his ceaseless courage was an inspiration to his whole troop.
On 30 August when his squadron attacked the German garrison in CHATILLON-SUR-SEINE, Vickers and his jeep were to guard the rear in an important cross-roads while the rest of the squadron were heavily engaged in the town, a large enemy column of 30 trucks and 400 reinforcements arrived at these cross-roads. Sgt. Vickers held his fire until the enemy closed to about twenty yards, and then set fire to the five leading vehicles with accurate shooting from his twin Vickers guns. The enemy attacked and enfiladed his position with heavy cross-fire, but Sgt. Vickers held the cross-roads until the whole squadron had extricated itself from the fierce fighting in the town. When his gunner was killed, he himself took the guns and standing in a completely exposed position, he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy until the end of the action. On another occasion, his squadron was attacked by 4 armoured cars and 600 infantry, when receiving supplies by parachute behind enemy lines. Sgt. Vicker's prompt action in knocking out the German Headquarters truck and killing their Commanding Officer, so disorganised the enemy attack that the squadron was able to escape the net, taking the enemy be surprise from the rear.
In all these operations, his dauntless courage and tenacity was outstanding.
Throughout the operation which began at ORLEANS and ended in VOSGES, lasting 5 weeks, Sgt. Vickers distinguished himself by a grim determination to inflict casualties upon the enemy. His jeep alone accounted for some twenty enemy vehicles and his ceaseless courage was an inspiration to his whole troop.
On 30 August when his squadron attacked the German garrison in CHATILLON-SUR-SEINE, Vickers and his jeep were to guard the rear in an important cross-roads while the rest of the squadron were heavily engaged in the town, a large enemy column of 30 trucks and 400 reinforcements arrived at these cross-roads. Sgt. Vickers held his fire until the enemy closed to about twenty yards, and then set fire to the five leading vehicles with accurate shooting from his twin Vickers guns. The enemy attacked and enfiladed his position with heavy cross-fire, but Sgt. Vickers held the cross-roads until the whole squadron had extricated itself from the fierce fighting in the town. When his gunner was killed, he himself took the guns and standing in a completely exposed position, he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy until the end of the action. On another occasion, his squadron was attacked by 4 armoured cars and 600 infantry, when receiving supplies by parachute behind enemy lines. Sgt. Vicker's prompt action in knocking out the German Headquarters truck and killing their Commanding Officer, so disorganised the enemy attack that the squadron was able to escape the net, taking the enemy be surprise from the rear.
In all these operations, his dauntless courage and tenacity was outstanding.
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9178352NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9178352
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