63575 Robert Peisley LIDWILL, DSO, King's Liverpool Regiment attached 8 Durham Light Infantry

Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Robert Peisley Lidwill, Infantry, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
On the night July 15th-16th, 1943, Lieutenant-Colonel Lidwill’s battalion was ordered to attack and capture a bridgehead over the Primsole Bridge in order to facilitate the advance of the division towards Catania. The bridge had formerly been held by Commando troops and had also been the scene of an attempt to capture it by another battalion which had been unsuccessful. It was largely owing to Lieutenant-Colonel Lidwill’s resolution and personal courage in the face of heavy enemy opposition that the bridgehead was taken and held against a strong enemy force composed of a German group of parachute troops. Lieutenant-Colonel Lidwill’s battalion held the bridgehead during the next day until further troops could be sent over the River Simeto to enlarge the bridgehead, and his complete disregard for his own personal safety during the whole of this period was an inspiration to all his own troops. The position held by his battalion was continually under heavy enemy machine-gun fire and occasional heavy shellfire, and in very close contact with the enemy, who were eventually only driven out of their positions by our own “Sherman” tanks. Lieutenant-Colonel Lidwill’s conduct during all the operation in Sicily up to date has been of the highest order and an example to all.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lidwill comes from Templemore, Co. Tipperary.


The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Lidwill, Robert Peysley
Rank: Major
Service No: 63575
Regiment: The King's Liverpool Regiment attached 8 Battalion The Durham Light Infantry
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Sicily
Award: Distinguished Service Order
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 21 October 1943
Date 1943-1944
Catalogue reference WO 373/3

London Gazette: 21 October, 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36217/supplement/4661/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Sicily: —

The Distinguished Service Order.
Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Robert Peisley Lidwill (63575), Infantry (Templemore, Co. Tipperary).



See this thread for ref:
Volunteers from Eire who have won distinctions ...

 

Major Lidwell 8th Durham Light Infantry 1942

 

Thanks Verrieres,
Was hoping you'd add to the thread.

Great photo, a very tough determined look about him.

D

 

79 years since the final capture of Primosole bridge:



© IWM NA 4781
INVASION OF SICILY THE ADVANCE TOWARDS CATANIA