Award Military Cross 229261 Lt. Michael Shears PAYNE, 8th Hussars, RAC Holland

brithm · May 4, 2022

Award Military Cross Lt. Michael Shears Payne, (229261) 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, RAC

On the 20th January "C" Squadron 8th Hussars was supporting 1st Rifle Brigade with orders to capture SINT JOOST and to clear the approaches to the bridges over the KROMBERK to enable the remainder of 22nd Armoured Brigade to advance on MONTFORT.
Lt. Payne was ordered to advance up the main street to assist two Platoons of 1st Rifle Brigade to clear the village. As soon as they crossed the start line the assaulting troops were met by heavy fire from the village and the tanks were fired on by AP from the right flank. The leading tank was hit by HE and the steering so damaged that it turned in the road and slid into the ditch. Seeing that the infantry were sustaining casualties and that the success of the entire operation was in the balance., Lt. Payne led the remainder of his troop towards the village and engaged the nearest houses from which small arms fire was coming with AP & HE, over silencing the opposition. Seeing however that the infantry were still pinned down by at least two spandau posts, which he was unable to locate from his turret, Lt. Payne dismounted, contacted the Platoon commander, located the Spandau posts, returned to his tank and despite the fact that it involved moving to within 15 yards of a house known to be occupied by enemy infantry plentifully equipped with bazookas, manoeuvred his tank into a position from which he was able to destroy the spandaus, thus enabling the infantry to gain a foothold in the village.
Thereafter working in very close co-operation with the infantry, who were by then engaged in fierce house to house fighting, Lt. Payne continually dismounted from his tank under very heavy small arms fire in order to maintain the very closest contact and understanding between himself and the Platoon commander and to locate points of resistance which he was unable to identify from the turret of his tank, which was confined to the village street for the greater part of the action.
As a direct result of Lt. Payne initiative, determination and entire disregard of his own safety, troops of 1st Rifle Brigade were able to capture half the village in less than 2 hrs and to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy.
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WO 373/53/24

Field Marshal Montgomery Decorates "Desert Rats" Payne wearing parachute wings 27th April 1945

IWM BU 5060

Suffolk and Essex Free Press 24th May 1945

The Tatler 17th June 1953

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Award Military Cross 229261 Lt. Michael Shears PAYNE, 8th Hussars, RAC Holland

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Award Military Cross 229261 Lt. Michael Shears PAYNE, 8th Hussars, RAC Holland

brithm Senior Member

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