taken from another site - relevant here
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Topic: taken from another site - relevant here
Posted By: A square 10
Subject: taken from another site - relevant here
Date Posted: December 16 2022 at 9:03pm
|
January 31st, 1945, and No.1 Commando are locked in heavy fighting with Japanese troops in the Battle for hill 170. Lieutenant George Knowland is in command of the forward most Platoon fighting roughly 300 enemy who have concentrated on his position of 24 men. When his forward most gun team were taken out, George rushed forward alone to man the Bren gun and help stem the Japanese counterattack. With the enemy only 10-yards away but below the line of the trench, he was forced to stand up in the face of oncoming fire, to put accurate fire down so friendly casualties could be evacuated. During subsequent attacks later in the day George even resorted to firing the 51mm Mortar from the hip, directly into an enemy position. He continued to fire the Mortar until all rounds were expended, at which point he reverted to small arms fire, continuing to cut down the oncoming Japanese troops until he himself was Killed. Despite over 50% losses, the platoon managed to hold their position against the Japanese counterattack for 12-hours before being relieved. For his actions that day 22-year-old George Knowland was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He is buried at the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma. |
Replies:
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 3:33am
| Wow, I’ve not heard that story before. |
Posted By: scottz63
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 4:22am
|
Wow! Real men existed back then. Not so much today. ------------- 14EH AIT Instructor-PATRIOT Fire Control Enhanced Operator/Maintainer |
Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 5:48am
| I suspect there are a few over in Ukraine right now. |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 10:32am
|
Similar story from Korea, whereby a small band of Canadians held a hilltop. They covered the full retreat of the Americans through the valley & became the target of the Chineese. It got to the point whereby they called a stonk on their own position from 2 allied firebases. (The fighting was now hand to hand) The Chineese retreated under the barrage.(No doubt thinking the Canadians were crazy) Thats why the P.P.C.L.I is the only foriegn military unit to have a U.S.Presidential citation on their battle honours. ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Strangely Brown
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 11:09am
hoadie, a correction if I may; The Gloucestershire regiment, (Glorious Glosters) were also awarded a Presidential citation which remains on their colours, although their colours are now the new colours of the Rifle Regiment after amalgamation. The other British unit to be awarded a Presidential citation (for the same action alongside the Glosters) was, 170 "Imjim" Battery Royal Artillery. The difference here is that the Royal Artillery do not have colours in the same way as an Infantry regiment of the line might, the guns are traditionally the colours of the artillery so in times of turmoil gunners defend their guns as an infantry soldier defends his regimental colours. Also in a particular hard fought/brave action the Battery may on occasions use the name of the action in their regimental title as 170 Bty do with the word Imjim. At the very real risk of rambling on too much my own Battery was awarded the name of the Battery commander who won the VC at the siege of the Delhi: 143 "Tombs's Troop" Field Battery Royal Artillery. The man in question was, Major General Sir Henry Tombs VC KCB. ------------- Mick |
hoadie wrote:Posted By: Honkytonk
Date Posted: December 17 2022 at 11:52am
| Hoadie. You speak of Kapyong. I can't imagine what the lads felt like out numbered and isolated as they were. My dad was in Korea with PPCLI, but in late '52 early '53 for his deployment, so not involved in that action. |
Posted By: Baxter
Date Posted: December 27 2022 at 2:10pm
| As part of K-bar, the Norwegian Special Forces have also got the presidential citation now |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: December 28 2022 at 5:00am
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They made a documentary about it back a few years ago, called:Return to Kapyong. They flew Romeo over to lead the doco, cuz not onloy was he there - he was the guy that called in the stonk on his own position. He's still alive. I see him from time to time. Flew down to Genesseeo N.Y. with him for the bomber fly-in a few squares back. ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |