VICTORIA CROSS WON

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 7

VICTORIA CROSS WON

awabjd delayed two teaks BRAVERY IN LIBYAN WAR (Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 18 i The Victoria Cross has been award- !! ed to Major (temporary-Lieutenant- Jj Colonel) H. R. B. Foote, D. 5.0., Royal ! Tank Regiment, for outstanding gal- j lantry during June, 1942, in the j Libyan campaign. The War Office says the lapse of time between the action and the announcement of the award was due to the full details not being available until certain officers who witnessed the event were repatriated recently. Confirmation was subsequently obtained from others who had since gone to other parts of the world. The citation states that on June 6, 1942, Major Foote led his battalion, which had been subjected to very heavy artillery fire, in pursuit of a superior force of the enemy. While changing to another tank after his own had been knocked out he was wounded in the neck. Despite this he continued from an exposed position on the outside of a tank to lead the battalion. The enemy, who was holding strongly entrenched positions with anti-tank guns, attacked his flank. As a further tank had been disabled he continued on foot under intense fire, encouraging his men by his splendid example. By dusk, Major foote, by brilliant leadership, had defeated the enemy’s attempt to encircle two of our divisions. Kept Corridor Open On June 13 when ordered to delay enemy tanks so that a Guards Brigade could be withdrawn from the Knightsbridge escarpment, and when the first wave of our tanks had been destroyed, Major Foote reorganised the remaining tanks, going on foot from one tank to another under intense artillery and anti-tank fire to encourage the crews. As it was of vital importance that his battalion should not give ground, Major Foote placed his tank, which he then entered, in front of the others so that he could be plainly visible in the turret as an encouragement to the other crews, despite the tank being badly damaged by shells and §re and all its guns rendered useless. By his magnificent example the corridor was kept open and the brigade was able to march through. Major Foote was always at the crucial point at the right moment, and over a period of several days gave an example of outstanding courage and leadership which it would have been difficult to surpass. His name was a by-word for bravery anO leadership throughout the brigade.