RA medal citation texts?

Is there any way to learn the reason for Royal Artillery members were granted medals?

I am reading the memoir of Harold Lake of the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment, which was part of the RA and not the Canadian Army, since Newfoundland was not part of Canada until 1949. He mentions receiving a Military Medal and being Mentioned in Dispatches but never entirely being clear as to exact action cited.

As I am reading the memoir I am surprised (though perhaps I should not be) to read that as a member of an artillery OP team he was on the ground with the Grenadier Guards on Longstop Hill on April 23, 1943 and on "Banana Ridge" on the 24th.

But prior to that - date unclear - he called in artillery on predetermined positions which broke up a night-time German attack. And looking ahead I see that he was at Monte Cassino...


I was also very lucky to find in one Canadian anti-tank war diary descriptions of two actions involving Archers for which a Lt and a Sgt were recommended for decorations. I wish I could find more.

 

Deleted, post #2 had all the information for which I was searching.

Mark

 

Thank you very much!

Is that as much information as I can expect in WO 373?

For instance, here is a version of the text I found for a Canadian gunner. I can't say right now whether this exactly matches the text in the War Diary or not as I'm at work.

On the morning of the 30th March 1945 at Emmerich, K15513 Sergeant Darrow Gomez was NCO i/c a 17 pounder self-propelled Valentine gun which was a part of a troop of the 105th Canadian Anti Tank Battery in support of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. The enemy had determinedly counter-attacked the position during the previous night and with daylight came the knowledge that self-propelled guns had been brought up to support these attacks. These enemy guns had assumed a most aggressive role and were rapidly rendering untenable the area occupied by a company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Since they were deployed on high ground and at short range, any movement on the part of our infantry was extremely hazardous.
At approximately 1100 hrs Sergeant Gomez pin-pointed the location of enemy gun after performing a reconnaissance under rifle and machine gun fire. Sergeant Gomez then manoeuvred his 17 pounder Valentine gun into a favourable position and succeeded in knocking out the enemy self-propelled equipment. Not content with this one success, Sergeant Gomez immediately commenced another reconnaissance in the company of "D" company commander of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. After considerable time, they located the position of another enemy self-propelled gun which was pinning down an entire company of our infantry. Notwithstanding the fact that the infantry company commander was killed at his side and the driver of his own equipment had become severely wounded, Sergeant Gomez fearlessly commenced to advance his gun to a suitable position. Although his own gun was twice hit by enemy shell-fire this NCO attained his objective and laying the gun himself, destroyed the enemy self-propelled equipment with one round.

Shortly after this incident, a strong enemy fighting patrol attacked the position occupied by Sergeant Gomez. Although his gun was clearly exposed to this party of enemy, and at very short range, he unhesitatingly manned the machine-gun mounted on his equipment and brought fire to bear on the infantry. One of the enemy patrol was consequently killed, seven were taken prisoner and the remainder forced to retire.

Throughout these actions, Sergeant Gomez displayed magnificent leadership and absolute disregard for his own personal safety. There is no doubt that the example he set enabled our infantry, despite heavy casualties, to hold this vital area in face of spirited enemy counter attacks.

Gomez, Darrow - TracesOfWar.com​

 

Thanks, dbf, that's brilliant!

I imagine this will take a while for me, as I am interested in looking through to find any reference to RA actions involving Valentine SPs aka Archers.

 

Hi dbf,

I do have a list of units and notes about which batteries had Archers. And I can restrict my search by date of the vehicle's introduction as well. Thank you very much!!

 

In case it's required..

 

Thank you, Richard! It is not required but it is good to know. It seems like he might have been awarded a citation for several different actions - although that is a standout - and he makes a point in his book of feeling that others in his unit were equally deserving.

I do recommend his book if anyone is interested... and if you can find a copy. (Perhaps They Left Us Up There)

 

Well, I've found a few relevant entries so I'm grateful to you all for the tips. What a great resource they've made available!

So I thought I'd share one citation entry which has NOTHING to do with my research. But it's still an RA officer:

76th (H) Field Regt RA
Lt Alastair Finlayson MACLEAN
M.C.

During the attack NE of WEEZE on the 27/28 Feb 45, this officer was acting as FOO with a coy of 2 E YORKS ordered to seize the bridge over the MUHLEN FLEUTH. During the approach to the bridge the Coy came under very heavy artillery and aimed MG fire from the left flank whilst crossing very open ground. In a position entirely devoid of any cover Lt MACLEAN with the greatest coolness and disregard for his own personal safety so directed the fire of his guns that the enemy MG was silenced and the Coy enabled to reach its objective with very few casualties. He was then joined by an FOO in a tank and being released from his gunner responsibilities offered his services to the inf coy comd to reinforce the dwindling number of officers and NCOs. From dusk onwards the Coy was subjected to continuous counter-attacks and with amn almost expended Lt MACLEAN took a carrying party back across the bridge to borrow amn from an MMG pl behind. On his return he took over comd of a force of 15 men and organized the defence of one end of a house. The enemy penetrated into the buildings within a few yards of his position but, in spite of repeated attempts to get into the house by the use of bazookas, he and his force beat off every counter attack and were still in position in the morning. This officer by his personal courage and fine leadership inspired the infantry tps under his comd to fight on even when their amn was almost gone and his example contributed in very great part to the Coy's achievement of holding fast to their bridgehead.

 

I think MacLean may be the officer of the same name named in the 76 Field Regiment report who waded ashore leading the first gun ashore of B Troop 302 Battery on Sword beach around about H+60 on D Day. The battery deployed and fired 500 rounds from the beach itself.

 

There was also a bit of a tradition of 76 Regiment FOOs doing more than just gunnery.

On D Day 2 E Yorks took very heavy casualties on Sword beach. One company lost almost all its officers. On Sword beach By 0900 hours the 2nd East Yorkshires moved towards the next objective, WN14, Strong point SOLE. Captain Featherstone with C Coy, was wounded as he left the beach, but adjusted the Regiment on to SOLE which was captured with little loss; he took the surrender of 88 Germans, hastened by a burst of Sten-gun fire.