240879 Charles Ivor Mervegh WILLIAMS, MC, 5 Grenadier Guards

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    Williams, Charles Ivor Mervegh
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Service No: 240879
    Regiment: 5 Battalion Grenadier Guards
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
    Award: Military Cross
    Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 07 December 1944
    Date 1944
    Catalogue reference WO 373/8

    24th Guards Brigade, 6th S.A. Armoured Division, 13 Corps
    240879 Lieutenant Charles Ivor Mervegh WILLIAMS, 5th Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS


    On the night of 11th July / 12 July this Officer led a small patrol of 5 Other Ranks with the object of discovering if there were any enemy in a thickly wooded hill just to the East of the most forward Company position, North of the village of SAN GUSME.

    In spite of the night being extremely dark he managed to lead his patrol by a very circuitous route in order to approach the wood from the far side. There he found the enemy in considerably greater numbers than himself.

    With great coolness he advanced towards them through the trees and in a very few minutes had killed five, three of whom he sot himself, and had taken four prisoners. He then withdrew with his prisoners without loss to his patrol.

    In the meantime his Company had been strongly attacked from the front after a heavy mortar concentration. Lieutenant WILLIAMS returned to his Company area just as a counter-attack with the Reserve Platoon was being organised by the Company Commander.

    He immediately joined in this counter-attack with three of his patrol and, by his determined leadership and courage under considerable small arms fire at close range did much to assist in clearing up a most confused situation on a vital ridge held by the forward Platoons.

    During the day this Company was continuously shelled and mortared suffering three times as many casualties in that period as it did when the enemy attacked. Lieutenant WILLIAMS continued throughout the day to reorganise his Platoon's defences with imperturbable courage, and set a fine example of devotion to duty to all ranks.

    Signed G.C. GORDON-LENNOX, D.S.O., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 5th Battalion GRENADIER GUARDS

    Granted an Immediate M.C.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2019

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