70 years ago, during the period 2nd to 9th April 1945, there were four awards of the Victoria Cross just before and during the first day of the last battle period in northern Italy, Operation Grapeshot (Buckland). Two of the men, who were awarded the Victoria Cross, are buried at Argenta Gap CWGC cemetery. Corporal Thomas Hunter, No 43 Royal Marine Commando. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1716660/HUNTER,%20THOMAS%20PECK Major Anders Lassen, SBS, SAS Regiment AAC. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1716704/LASSEN,%20ANDERS%20FREDERICK%20EMIL%20V%20SCHAU Sepoy Namdeo Jadav, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. Sepoy Ali Haidar, 13th Frontier Force Rifles. best edit: added photo of Argenta Gap CWGC cemetery taken in 2009.
Name: Thomas Peck Hunter Birth Date: 6 Oct 1923 Birth Place: Aldershot, Hampshire Death Date: 3 Apr 1945 Death Place: Argenta Gap, Near Revenna Ferrara, Italy TD
Name: Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen Birth Date: 22 Sep 1920 Birth Place: Hovdingsgard' Mern, South Zealand, Denmark Death Date: 9 Apr 1945 Death Place: North Shore of Lake Comacchio, Italy TD
Interesting that I cannot find the 2 Sepoys in the database?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdeo_Jadav He was 23 years old, and a Sepoy in the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, in the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 9 April 1945 at the Senio River, Italy, when a small party were almost wiped out in an assault on the east floodbank of the river, Sepoy Namdeo Jadav carried two wounded men under heavy fire through deep water, up a steep bank and through a mine belt to safety. Then, determined to avenge his dead comrades, he eliminated three enemy machine-gun posts. Finally, climbing on top of the bank he shouted the Maratha war cry and waved the remaining companies across. He not only saved many lives but enabled the battalion to secure the bridgehead and ultimately to crush all enemy resistance in the area. He is from Virgaon, Ahamadnagar, Maharashtra. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Haidar_%28military%29 The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: — No. 26534 Sepoy ALl HAIDAR, 13th Frontier Force Rifles, British Indian Army. In Italy, during the crossing of the River Senio, near Fusignano, in daylight on 9 April 1945, a Company of the I3th Frontier Force Rifles were ordered to assault the enemy positions strongly dug in on the far bank. These positions had been prepared and improved over many months and were mainly on the steep flood banks, some 25 feet high. Sepoy Ali Haidar was a member of the lefthand Section of the left-hand Platoon. As soon as the Platoon started to cross, it came under heavy and accurate machine gun fire from two enemy posts strongly dug in about 60 yards away. Sepoy Ali Haidar's Section suffered casualties and only 3 men, including himself, managed to get across. The remainder of the Company was temporarily held up. Without orders, and on his own initiative, Sepoy Ali Haidar, leaving the other two to cover him, charged the nearest post which was about 30 yards away. He threw a grenade and almost at the same time the enemy threw one at him, wounding him severely in the back. In spite of this he kept on and the enemy post was destroyed and four of the enemy surrendered. With utter disregard of his own wounds he continued and charged the next post in which the enemy had one Spandau and three automatics, which were still very active and preventing movement on 'both banks. He was "again wounded, this time in the right leg and right arm. Although weakened by loss of blood, with great determination Sepoy Ali Haidar crawled closer and in a final effort raised himself from the ground, threw a grenade, and charged into the second enemy post. Two enemy were wounded and the remaining two surrendered. Taking advantage of the outstanding success of Sepoy Ali Haidar's dauntless attacks, the rest of the Company charged across the river and carried out their task of making a bridgehead. Sepoy Ali Haidar was picked up and brought back from the second position seriously wounded. The conspicuous gallantry, initiative, and determination combined with a complete disregard for his own life shown by this very brave Sepoy in the face of heavy odds were an example to the whole Company. His heroism had saved an ugly situation which would — but for his personal bravery — have caused the Battalion a large number of casualties at a critical time and seriously delayed the crossing of the river and the building of a bridge. With the rapid advance which it was possible to make the Battalion captured 3 officers and 217 other ranks and gained their objectives TD
I lied - Name: Haidar Ali Birth Date: 21 Aug 1913 Birth Place: Shahu Village, Kohat, North West Frontier, India Birth Place Modern: Pakistan Death Place: Khan Bari Village, Kohat, Pakistan TD
The actions of Corporal Thomas Hunter are the focus of an article in the current issue of Britain At War.
Name: Jadhav Namdeo Birth Date: 10 Nov 1921 Birth Place: Nimai, Ahmednagar, Bombay, India Death Date: 2 Aug 1984 Death Place: Pune, Maharashtra State, India TD
Not new information, but you may be interested in this photo of the Anders Lassen memorial recently taken in Copenhagen, The inscription reads, “Fallen for Denmark's freedom in Allied service” A short distance away, outside The Citadel, now used as military barracks, is this memorial, “Our Fallen in Danish and allied service 1940 - 1945 - Raised by the Danish people”
