TWO MORE V.C.’S

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 30 June 1943, Page 5

TWO MORE V.C.’S

BRAVERY IN NORTH AFRICA ONE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY POSITIONS CAPTURED UNDER HEAVY FIRE (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) Rugby, June 29. Two more Victoria Crosses have been awarded for conspicuous gallantry in North Africa. Lieut. W. A. S. Clarke, Royal Regiment, receives the award posthumously and the other goes to Major J. M. Anderson, D. 5.0., of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.

During an attack 0 n Guirat el Atach, a feature six miles east-north-east of Mejezelbab, Lieut. Clarke was the sole remaining officer after his company had gained its objective, but had been almost wiped out. Lieut. Clarke, who was wounded in the head, gathered a composite platoon together and volunteered to attack the position again. As the platoon closed on the objective, it met heavy machine-gun fire, but Lieut. Clarke manoeuvred his men into a position t 0 give covering fire. Then he t ckled th- post single-handed, killing or capturing the crew and knocking out the gun.

Almost at once the platoon came under the fire of two more machinegun posts. Lieut. Clarke again went forward alone and killed the crews or compelled them to : urrender and then led the platoon on tj the objective. While the platoon was consolidating it came under the fire of two sniper posts. Lieut. Clarke advanced alcne to clear tl-. n, but was killed within a few feet of the enemy. INTENSE ENEMY FIRE Major Anderson won the award during an attack on Longstop Hill, where for five hours he led an attack through intense enemy machine-gun and mortar fire. He led an assault on the battalion’s first objective in daylight, over a long expanse of open sloping hillside, most of the time without effective cover of smoke. Enemy infantry was most determined and very heavy casualties were sustained, including all the other company commanders. Before the first objective was reached Major Anderson reorganised his battalion under heavy fire, the commanding officer having been killed. He took command of the battalion and led the assault on the second objective. He received a leg wound, but carried on and finally captured Longstop Hill, with a total remaining force of four officers and under 40 other ranks.

During the attack, Major Anderson personally led attacks on at least three enemy machine-gun positions and also led a successful attack on a mortar position defended by over 30 enemy. It was largely due to his bravery that the hill was captured.—B.O.W.