FSSF Wright, Allan Leslie (Spud)

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Wright
  • FORENAME
Allan Leslie (Spud)
  • UNIT
1 Regiment (2 Company)
  • RANK
Staff Sergeant
  • NUMBER
M/3328
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Cross (US), Military Medal
  • PLACE
Italy 1944
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Canada
from Grande Prairie, Alberta
born 09.11.1920, Grande Prairie Alta, Alberta, Canada
father Peter Allan Wright
mother Christina A. (nee Tronson) Wright (1895-1968)
wife Jenny Alma Mae (nee Slater) Wright (1911-1999)
Lieutenant 1 Regiment (3 Company) at time of awards
died 29.01.1999 (Aged 78)
City of Grande Prairie Cemetery, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
 

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Cross : First Lieutenant (than Staff Sergeant), Second Company, First Regiment, First Special Service Force, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Radicosa, Italy on 7 January 1944. When a night attack by his company on an enemy held mountain crest was halted by the deadly cross-fire of sixteen machine guns, Lieutenant Wright, commanding an assault platoon proceeded forward alone to attack the machine gun position near him. After crawling one hundred yards up the exposed, snow covered slope to within a few yards of the enemy position, he leaped to his feet and charged the gun emplacement firing his Thompson sub-machine gun, destroying one and capturing two of the enemy crew. After assembling a section of his platoon, he then personally led them in a charge against a second and then a third machine gun, putting them out of action and destroying three and capturing two more of the enemy. During an order to withdraw at this point because adjacent units were unable to press their attack, Lieutenant Wright was informed that one of his men had been seriously wounded and lay in a position which could not be reached because of the intense fire of enemy machine guns and machine pistols. Unmindful of almost certain death, Lieutenant Wright rushed twenty-five yards up the fire-swept slope, bodily lifted the man to his shoulders and carried him one hundred and fifty yards to a litter team. He then directed his platoon in a successful withdrawal without further casualties. By his single-handed assault, his daring and courageous leadership toward an ultimate winning objective to save the life of a soldier at the risk of his own, Lieutenant Wright won the respect and admiration of his fellow soldiers and superior officers. He proved himself a real leader in the overcoming of a military obstacle of new small magnitude. Entered military service from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.

Military Medal : On 4 Jun 1944, in the outskirts of Rome, on Highway #6, Wright was Coy S.M. of 2nd Coy, 1st Regt., F.S.S.F. With a Coy of Medium tanks in support they were given the mission of clearing all enemy resistance from Acqua Boilaneia to the junction of Highway #6p and the R.R. tracks contact 2nd Regiment and join them in the push in to Rome.

Unknown to the Coy the enemy were using this road as an escape route for approx 300 Parachute Infantry troops and 12 to 15 tanks.

Weather was clear, own morale good, enemy morale fair.

On seeing the situation CSM. Wright quickly organized ten men and five tanks. Disregarding enemy sniper and m.g. fire coming from nearly all windows of the surrounding bldgs, he led his men and tanks into such an advantageous position that his tanks were able to knock out several enemy tanks and S.P. guns and his men to kill 20 and wound 12 and capture 14 enemy. During this time with his own Thompson Sub-machine gun he forced a machine gun crew to surrender, killed two motorcycle riders, a sniper, a soldier directing enemy tanks, and wounded 4 paratroopers protecting some tanks.

CSM. Wright's courageous action and skillful leadership in the face of superior numbers only naturally assisted his coy to accomplish their mission but caused such confusion among the enemy that the Coy in addition to the above casualties inflicted another 90 killed 40 prisoners and many wounded on the enemy.

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7352060 (Military Medal)

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190867981/allan-leslie-wright
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