1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1944-45 - Awards and Citations
Private (L/Cpl.) Leonard DAVIES (5249620)
Leonard Davies was recommended by Lieut.-Col. M. R. J. Hope-Thomson on the 19th April 1945 for an immediate Military Medal.
Military Medal (London Gazette date 12th July 1945.)
Citation:
“On 1st April 1945, ‘B’ Company was advanced guard to the Battalion on its move to GOOR. At Diepenheim the Recce ran into opposition and ‘B’ Company was committed with the job of clearing the village. On reaching the far end of the village the left forward Platoon came under heavy and accurate small arms fire at close range from the woods and two houses. The Platoon had three casualties in its advance towards these two houses, so L/Cpl. DAVIS ran across to one of the tanks that was supporting the advance and directed its fire on to the enemy positions. To do this he had to go across about 40 yards of open ground and remain in the open while he pointed out targets to the tank commander.
This done he started to return to his section and was wounded on the way. Reaching his section he continued to direct their fire of his section until the remainder of the Platoon had hot round and reached the two houses. After the action was over L/Cpl. DAVIS handed over his section to a senior private and allowed himself to be evacuated. L/Cpl. DAVIS’ action enabled his platoon to reach their objective without further casualties and was an inspiration to all who saw him.”
Background:
Len Davies was from Kinver, Staffordshire (near Stourbridge). He previously served with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment in the North West Frontier (1937-39). He was attached to the Indian Medical Services in Waziristan and in October 1939 was mentioned in dispatches.