The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Pember, Rawdon Cecil George Rank: Lieutenant, Temporary Captain Service No: P/165038 Regiment: 3 Tank Battalion Scots Guards Theatre of Combat or Operation: North West Europe 1944-45 Award: Military Cross Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 01 March 1945 Date 1945 Catalogue reference WO 373/51 6th Guards Tank Brigade, 12 Corps P/165038 War Substantive Lieutenant, Acting Captain Rawdon Cecil George PEMBER, 3rd Tank Battalion SCOTS GUARDS Captain PEMBER was in command of the Recce Troop during the advance from OIRSCHOT to TILBURG on Wednesday 25th October 1944. About 1100 hours enemy Anti-Tank guns were reported in position just EAST of HEILIGEBOOM at the North-West end of the straight road running through marshy area between there and SPOORDONK. Captain PEMBER was ordered to locate their exact position. He himself led the patrol which was forced to go down the road straight at the enemy guns as it was impossible to by-pass their position for two miles either side. He did so in spite of the lack of cover and was able to report the position vacated by the enemy and the action was enabled to continue. About 1600 hours that day Captain PEMBER was ordered to take the six light tanks of his Recce Troop and advance from MORGESTAL in co-operation with a Company of Infantry in armoured carriers to seize the main road bridge East of TILBURG which was thought to be intact. About 1720 hours as there had been some delay in getting the Infantry over the broken MORGESTEL bridge Captain PEMBER started off ahead of the Infantry towards the bridge which lay some three thousand yards ahead of our leading troops. Owing to the difficult nature of the country which was very swampy and intersected by big ditches he was at 1810 hours still some 400 yards short of the bridge. As the light was then too bad to allow the Infantry who were following up to continue and they were then about 1,00 yards behind, he was ordered to withdraw. At that moment he found himself in the centre of the enemy company locality defending the bridgehead, and was engaged by heavy Machine Gun fire from all sides. In spite of the twilight Captain PEMBER's troop fought back most energetically, killing and wounding a number of the enemy who tried to surround them, but in withdrawing three of the light tanks got ditched in close proximity to the enemy. In spite of the fire of 6 - 8 Machine Guns Captain PEMBER directed the unditching of two of them, but the third which was lying on its side had to be left as it was then quite dark, though the crew were got out safely. Captain PEMBER's coolness, leadership and gallantry during this extremely difficult period were outstanding and enabled the troop to extract itself safely from an extremely awkward situation 28th October 1944 Granted Immediate Military Cross
