The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details Name Hodgson, Leslie Arthur Rank: Guardsman Service No: 2734818 Regiment: 3 Battalion Welsh Guards Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 07 December 1944 Date 1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/8 1st Guards Brigade, 6th Armoured Division, 13 Corps 22734818 Guardsman, Lance-Corporal Leslie Arthur HODGSON, 3rd Battalion WELSH GUARDS Date: 2nd August 1944. Map Ref: 031539, Sheet 114/IV, 1/50,000 ITALY Lance-Corporal HODGON was a member of a recce patrol consisting of one Officer and 5 Other Ranks which was ordered to go out in daylight from FAELLA 9951 to PIAN DI SCO 0253 to find out if this area was occupied. The patrol found PIAN DI SCO village unoccupied by heard a civilian report that a house at 031539 was occupied by 5 Germans who were resting. The patrol advanced to capture a P.W. who was much needed. When on the outskirts of the house the Officer and one Guardsman were killed by a sniper. Lance-Corporal HODGSON took command at once of the remaining three Guardsmen, took the house and captured four enemy; the remainder (four and not one as reported by the civilian), escaped. Lance-Corporal HODGSON, knowing that it would be fatal to show himself with his four Prisoners of War in daylight with so many enemy watching the house, (they were in the middle of an enemy Company position), hid his four Prisoners of War and his men in the attic of the house, where the enemy failed to find them, although they entered the house in some strength and shouted the names of the four Prisoners of War. Lance-Corporal HODGSON was surrounded and could not move in daylight. As soon as darkness came, he ordered all his party to put on sacking over their boots to deaden the noise and managed to slip through the enema. He returned to his Company with his four valuable Prisoners of War, a distance of over three miles. Acting Lance-Corporal HODGSON's initiative and determination to continue with his Officer's intention in spite of that Officer being dead and the heavy odds against him, was an outstanding performance. Granted an Immediate D.C.M.
Cheers Kyle Thanks for adding those. Much appreciated. Names transcribed below. Corporal E. WILLIAMS Squad, WELSH GUARDS, September 1930: Back Row: 2734821 E PRITCHARD, 2 Welsh Guards, Guardsman J. KENNEDY, Guardsman C. MORRIS, Trained Soldier T. MOSS, Guardsman A. DUMMETT, Guardsman R. WINTER, Guardsman F. JACKSON Middle Row: 2734812 Frederick John BUSBY, 3 Welsh Guards, Guardsman R. SLATER, Guardsman R. COMMANDER, Guardsman F. BROMHALL, Guardsman J. BRYANT, 2734818 Leslie Arthur HODGSON, DCM, 3 Welsh Guards, Guardsman L. ALEXANDER, Guardsman G. NICHOLSON, Guardsman A. GOULDER, Guardsman J. MITCHELL Front Row: 2734822 R WILLIAMS, 2 Welsh Guards, Guardsman T. PENN, Guardsman F. DEAR, Corporal E. WILLIAMS (Squad Instructor), Guardsman J. HURST, 2734819 William FINLAY, 3 Welsh Guards, 2734811 Emrys WILLIAMS, MM, MiD, 2 Welsh Guards
