THREE V.C.’s AWARDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 October 1944, Page 6

THREE V.C.’s AWARDED

MORE STORIES OF HEROISM RUGBY, October 26. The award of Victoria Crosses is announced to Captain David Jamieson, Royal Norfolk Regiment; Lieutenant Gerald Ross Norton, M.M., South African Forces, attached to the Hampshire, and Lieut. (Acting Captain) Michael Allmond, 6th Gurkha Rifles, who receives the award posthumously. Jamieson was in command of a company which established a bridgehead over the Orne, south of Grimboxq. During enemy counter-attacks, the brunt of the fighting fell on the company. Two 'of three tanks supporting the company were destroyed. Jamieson left a trench under close range fire and went over to direct the fire of the remaining tank, but as he could not get in touch with the commander of the tank by outside telephone, he climbed upon it in full view of the enemy. He was wounded, but refused to be evacuated. He reorganised the company, walking among the men in full view of the enemy. Norton was commanding a platoon during the attack on a Gothic Line’ feature. The leading platoon was pinned down by heavy fire. Singlebanded, Norton attacked first one and then another machine-gun position, killing and capturing the enemy. Allmond, commanding a platoon in the attack on a Pinhmi road bridge, charged single-handed against desperate enemy resistance. Inspired oy his example, his men followed and captured the objective. Two days later, he again dashed against the enemy through marshy ground swept by machine-gun fire. On June 23, m a final attack on the railway bridge at Mogaung, Al Im and, though sui--I'ering from a trench foot, moved forward alone through deep mud and shell-holes and charged a machinegun nest single-handed, but was mortally wounded. FOUR V-C.B~PRESF.NTED - RUGBY, October 24. The Viceroy of India (Viscount Wavell) took the salute at a grand parade in Delhi, at which he presented lour Victoria Crosses, and one George Cross to soldiers of the Indian Army for gallantry in actions in Italy, Arakan, and Imphal. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbattan, Supreme Allied Commander in South-east Asia, was present.