Award Military Medal Bdr. G. Helm, 149 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

brithm · Jan 10, 2023

Award Military Medal Bdr. George Helm, 149 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (898622)

On the night of 18th March 1944 Bdr HELM was in charge of a party acting as porters attached to 1/4 ESSEX. At 1800 hrs they set off from the main Bn dump. Their orders were to follow the tail of 'D' Coy, carrying essential supplies for the infantry. They met at once with violent shelling, mortaring and small arms fire from the enemy, on rocky and precipitous ground in pitch darkness and with heavy loads.

Half way up the hill the infantry in front halted. Bdr. Helm went to ascertain the reason and found that the small party of infantry immediately in front of him had lost touch with their main body, which by now was far ahead.

Not knowing the route in the dark and to avoid the risk of wandering into the enemy with the vital supplies, Bdr. helm made a cache and returned to the Bn dump to obtain a guide. he found an infantry Officer of another Bn who was going forward and to whom he attached hi party. On the way way up he collected his stores again and continued the climb. Three quarters of the way up this Officer said that he would have to go elsewhere and not to the Castle.

Once more Bdr Helm made a dump and returned to the Bn dump for a guide. He again found an officer going forward and a third time commenced his ascent, though by this time the party was quite exhausted and had been depleted by casualties. They collected their stores and this time reached their objective.

As they arrived the enemy launched a counter attack. Bdr Helm and his party went six times to the Essex mortar positions under heavy fire carrying mortar ammunition. This was done entirely on Bdr. Helm's own initiative without orders and in order to assist the infantry who were very short handed through casualties. This operation lasted for a further two hours under continuous very heavy shell fire.

Bdr. helm thus made three attempts under the most hazardous conditions to deliver his supplies to the infantry. For a total of 12½ hrs, from 1800 to 0630, he and his party were under the full weight of the enemy shelling, mortar and small arms fire on their precipitous journeys.

It was entirely die to Bdr. Helm's great tenacity and determination to get the supplies through at all costs, coupled with his great initiative and gallant leadership and example to his party, that they were eventually able to successfully to complete their mission.
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WO 373/7/213

Liverpool Echo 28th August 1944

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Award Military Medal Bdr. G. Helm, 149 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

brithm Senior Member

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Award Military Medal Bdr. G. Helm, 149 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

brithm Senior Member

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