Grenadier Guards RoH, WW2 Casualties & Awards

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From the above recommendation for L/Cpl Byrne:

Having done this he at once returned to his company, made an improvised stretcher with rifles, and helped carry his C.S.M., who ultimately died, for a mile, over what could practically be called impossible going.

This man could be the CSM mentioned, but the GG History has him listed as KIA:

Warrant Officer Class II STANLEY GEORGE SAMUEL HERBERT 2612343, 3rd Bn., Grenadier Guards who died age 34 on 05 February 1943
Son of John Thomas Herbert and Florence Herbert; husband of Edith Herbert. of Sidcup, Kent.
Remembered with honour MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. E. 6.
CWGC :: Casualty Details

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39276 A/Lieutenant-Colonel (W/Major) George Charles GORDON-LENNOX

24th Guards Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps

The splendid performance put up by the 5th Bn Gren Gds commencing with their attack on GRICH EL OUED on 23 Apr 43 and culminating in a three day struggle on 27 Apr may very largely be put down to the inspiring leadership of their Commanding Officer.

His own personal courage and coolness throughout a long and exceedingly trying operation was of the highest order.

At one time the Battalion had enemy tanks on two sides and the situation was more than critical and might well have been disastrous to the whole of the operations as, if the Commanding Officer had not restrained his Battalion from attacking the tanks, the important ground won would have been lost.

The splendid spirit of this battalion was impersonated by Lt.-Col. GORDON-LENNOX. Throughout the terrific battles they fought, his commanding personality showed itself and encouraged all and sundry to ever greater efforts and sacrifices. His courage is indomitable.

Immediate DSO

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

WO373/1-ir1053-p748 & 749

see post #35 for further info from Drew

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58081 Major Charles William Norman BARNETT, 5th Bn GRENADIER GUARDS

24 Guards Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps

This officer has shown outstanding skill and devotion to duty in command of a Coy during the operations which this Bn has taken part 22 Apr - 4 May.

He led his Coy with great resolution during the night attack on the GRICHEL OUED posns (Pts 134 & 160) in which the Coy overran several M.G. posts and captured a number of prisoners.

During the daylight attack on DJEBEL BOU AOUKAZ on 27 Apr this officer's Coy led the Bn. The determination with which he handled his Coy as a number of most active M.G. posts were met with and the skill with which he directed its advance to make the utmost of the ground in an almost completely open approach of 4 miles under heavy shell fire is deserving of the highest praise.

During this attack he led his Coy in their determined assault on the final objective (Pt 171) - a high rocky pinnacle - which was captured after overrunning a number of mortar and M.G. posns, and taking about 100 prisoners.

This officer's competence and courage throughout these operations continued to inspire his whole Coy with the greatest confidence until he was badly wounded on 4 May.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
MC

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WO373/2-ir807-p33

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11889 Captain Arthur HEYWOOD-LONSDALE, 5th Bn GRENADIER GUARDS

24 Guards Brigade, 1st Division, 5 Corps

This officer has commanded his Coy with outstanding courage and skill throughout the operations in which this Bn has taken part 22 Apr - 5 May.

His unruffled determination and fine leadership saved his Coy many casualties when fired on from a flank by two enemy infantry guns and an anti-tank gun during the mopping up of GRICHEL OUED on Apr 22.

On 27 Apr during the attack by this Bn on DJEBEL BOU AOUKAZ, he arrived first on his Coy objective, all his subaltern officers having become casualties and his Coy having destroyed not less than two M.G. posts and captured 10 enemy mortars and their crews.

It was his skilful and determined direction of his Coy on this occasion that enabled it to reach and consolidate its objective in spite of considerable casualties.

Lastly, on 29 Apr he led the remnants of his own and another Coy with great promptness to reinforce the IRISH GUARDS between pts 212 and 214. Crossing a broad valley under considerable shell fire and in full view of the enemy O.P.s he led this composite Coy with such dash and skill that they arrived at the top of the IRISH GUARDS ridge with only 4 casualties. Having assisted in the reorganisation of this point he was relieved by a Coy of 6 GORDONS and managed to get his Coy back intact to his own locality.

This officer's conduct throughout the operations has set a fine example to all with whom he has come in contact.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[DSO Recommended]
MC

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

WO373/2-ir807-p35 & 36

[Drew5233]

Major, Acting Lieutenant Colonel, later Lieutenant General, Sir.

B. 29.05.08 D. 11.05.88

KBE LG 01.01.64

CB LG 01.01.59

CVO LG 05.06.52

DSO LG 08.07.43

MiD LG 11.01.45

Gorden-Lennox held a number of appointments until his retirement in 1966 as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Scottish Command and Governor of Edinburgh Castle. He served as King of Arms, the Order of the British Empire between 1968 and 1983.

Brother of Rear Admiral Sir Alexander Henry Charles Gorden-Lennox.

The Distinguished Service Order 1924-2008 - James Sutherland

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223985 Captain Harold Douglas EDDY,Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 5th Bn GRENADIER GUARDS

24 Guards Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps
This officer displayed most outstanding courage and devotion to duty throughout the operations of this Bn 22 Apr - 6 May.

During the night attack on GRICHEL OUED posns on 22 Apr he moved level with the assaulting Coys and established his R.A.P. on the objective immediately it was gained. Throughout the next 24 hrs he worked under shell and mortar fire with exemplary courage.

He again moved with the Bn during the night attacks on Pts 119 and 131 and established his R.A.P. within a few minutes of the objective being gained. Here the R.A.P. received a direct hit by a shell but continued to function uninterruptedly under Capt EDDY's fine leadership in spite of some casualties.

On being established upon Pt 171 after the attack on DJEBEL BOU AOUKAZ, the R.A.P. again received a direct hit from a mortar bomb, in spite of which this officer continued his work of evacuation, showing calm resolution and complete disregard for his personal safety under heavy and accurate mortar fire.

I cannot overstate the admiration felt by all ranks for this officer's unfaltering gallantry.

Strongly recommended.
MC

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WO373/2-ir807-p43 & 44

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From British to Foreign Awards, Netherlands, 1945 - 1949:

306838 Lieutenant Adrian SLOB, ROYAL NETHERLANDS BRIGADE
Guards Armoured Division, 8 Corps

At VIESSOIX 11th Aug, this officer displayed outstanding powers of leadership, untiring energy, and commendable aggressiveness.

His platoon entered the village and immediately came under heavy mortar and Machine Gun fire, and at once began to suffer casualties. He then collected all available men which included a section of carriers and organised them into groups, and attempted to advance beyond the village to attack enemy positions which he had located to be firing at him.

Although not able to advance this action enabled to the M.G. fire of the tanks to be directed on to these enemy positions and reduced the effectiveness of the enemy fire.

Completely disregarding his own personal safety, he organised the evacuation of the wounded on carriers and tanks. He remained in the village all day under, at times, very heavy shell fire, and his platoon was eventually reduced to four men and himself.

Throughout the day his courage and calmness was an inspiring example to all ranks.

Immeditate MC

WO373/187-ir2008-p209

The German Unit involved in the above action at Viessoix was according to the GG History part of the 5th Parachute Regiment from the 3rd Parachute Division.


Courtesy of Owen, 2 excerpts mentioning Lt. Slob, from The Grenadier Guards, Forbes:
page 138 regarding Nijmegen fighting on Sept 21.

At the same time Lieut A Slob's platoon surrounded a large house near by, covered the exits with machine-guns and threw in phosporus grenades which roasted alive about 150 Germans who were inside.

page 203 Feb 21-22 near Nijmegen again.

There was a spate of conferences during these two days and whilst Lieut A Slob MC, a Dutch officer who joined the 1st Battlalion a year before , was travelling in his jeep to one of them, a tank crashed into it, injuring him fatally.

Lt. Adriaan Slob is not listed in the Grenadier Guards RoH published in the above book.

Originally Posted by ramacal

A Grenadier Guard with a Dutch Headstone.

SLOB, ADRIAAN
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 23/02/1945
Service No: 306838
Awards: M C
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Slob, of Sneek, Friesland, Holland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 18. A. 4.
Cemetery: JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY

Thanks to Rob and Owen.

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207638 WS/Lieutenant William Stratford DUGDALE, 3rd Bn GRENADIER
GUARDS

1st Guards Brigade, 5 Corps

On the 13 Jan 43 Lt. DUGDALE was in comd of one of the two Pl.s
ordered to carry out a raid at dawn on a German position.

As he approached the top of a high hill where the Germans were entrenched the enemy fired several verey lights and opened up on each side of him with two M.G.s firing on fixed lines.

The Pl. lay low until the verey lights died away an then Lt. DUGDALE led his men straight to the German posns. As they doubled forward up the slope, Lt. DUGDALE outstripped the rest of his Pl by several yds and made straight for the trench which three Germans had just jumped into. He was pulled into the trench by two of the enemy who grabbed him by the legs.
One of the Germans very soon ran away and after exhausting his revolver amn he struggled for some mins with the other two, holding one round the neck and pinning the other to the ground with his foot. Shortly afterwards, the remainder of his Pl. arrive and both Germans were taken prisoner.

Lt. DUGDALE led his men and the prisoners back towards our own lines under heavy M.G. fire and brought all safely back *except one of the prisoners who could not face the fire from his own machine guns and was shot by our own men when he refused to continue.

On two or three other occasions since my Bn has been in the front line, Lt. DUGDALE has led Fighting Patrols with great success and has always shown the utmost personal courage and initiative.

In one case in particular, he took his men straight into a M.G. nest, killed the crew, and withdrew his patrol without loss.

Night after night he has led similar patrols, and always been the first to volunteer for further operations against the enemy.

I commend this Officer without hesitation for the immediate award of the Military Cross.

Strongly recommended
MC

* This part is not to be copied from the citation for publication in the press

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WO373/2-ig807-p245 & 246

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Originally Posted by Verrieres

No. 2618494 Lance-Sergeant Harry Joseph Lippitt,
Grenadier Guards (Halesowen, Worcs.).

The Military Medal
Gazette Issue 36961 published on the 27 February 1945
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1st MARCH, 1945

Verrieres

2618494 War Substantive Corporal, Unpaid Lance-Corporal Harry Joseph LIPPITT, 4th Bn GRENADIER GUARDS

6th Guards Tank Brigade, 8 Corps
On Friday 13th October, 1944, one mile WEST of OVERLOON, the Troop, in which L/Sgt LIPPITT commanded a Tank, supported the leading Infantry in an attack.

The Troop preceded the infantry (R.U.R.) and in due course were engaged by A/Tk gun fire. One Tank in the Troop was knocked out and four of the crew wounded. Shortly afterwards L/Sgt LIPPITT's tank was also knocked out as far as the guns of the tank were concerned.

L/Sgt LIPPITT then got out of his tank, ran to the one remaining tank and organised a local smoke screen. He then ordered his own tank to get clear and went alone under heavy German machine gun fire to help the wounded men out of the original tank. Two could not walk and two were dazed. The Germans were within 100 ids of him and continually sniping. He managed to get all the wounded back.

By his great coolness, courage and disregard of his own safety L/Sgt LIPPITT undoubtedly saved the lives of his comrades. His actions were carried out in the face of continual enemy fire. His own tank was hit 3 times by an 88 mm in the course of the action.

Granted an Immediate MM

WO373/52-ir3288-p285

Thanks again to Verrieres for the photo

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2617893 War Substantive Corporal (Unpaid Lance-Sergeant) Shaw HARPER, 1st MOTOR Bn GRENADIER GUARDS

5th Guards Armoured Brigade, Guards Armoured Division, 8 Corps

On 11 Aug 44 this NCO showed outstanding courage and efficiency in firstly continuing to clear mines from a bridge under heavy mortar and arty fire after the two other NCOs with him had been wounded, and secondly when his Offr was incapacitated, took command of his platoon and drove off a party of enemy paratps who were attacking 2 incapacitated tanks.

He then held the village of LE VAL for 5 hours, which was under constant fire from arty and mortar fire, supported by the 2 immobile tanks, finally withdrawing his platoon on order from the Tank Tp Comd.

MM

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WO373-ir3288-p283