OUTSTANDING COURAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 5

OUTSTANDING COURAGE

BRITISH SOLDIER AWARDED V.C. HEROIC EXPLOIT IN ITALY. RUGBY, Jan. 4. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Private Henry Burton, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. The citation says: “In Italv in October, 1944, two companies of the regiment moved forward to take a strongly held feature 760 metres high, the capture of which was vital. Twenty yards from the top the leading platoon was held up by withering. Spandau fire. Burton rushed forward, engaged the first Spandau position with his tommy gun, and killed the crew of three. When the assault was again held up by a murderous fire from two more machine-guns. Burton, again showing complete disregard of his own safety, dashed forward towards the first machine-gun, using his tommy gun until his ammunition was exhausted. He then picked up a Bren gun, and, firing from his hip, succeeded in killing and wounding the crews of the two machine-guns. Thanks to his outstanding courage, the company was then able to consolidate on the forward slope of the feature. In subsequent counter-attacks. Burton, on his own initiative, directed such accurate fire on the enemv that they retired after failing to dislodge our forces. Burton’s magnificent gallantry and total disregard of his own safety during many hours of fierce fighting in mud and continuous rain were an inspiration to all his comrades.”