Acts of Bravery
Acting Sergeant A F Beal 1st King's Dragoon Guards. Distinguished Conduct Medal
On 21st July 1944 Sergeant Beal was leading a patrol of armoured cars reconnoitering a route to Anghiari when he ran into a strongly held position of four Companies strength on the slopes just south of Veriano. The enemy opened fire with heavy shell, mortar and small arms fire from all sides. Sgt Beal quickly organised his party into two parts and attacked the enemy positions with his guns and 6 men on their feet, which was far exceeding his task. The result of his attacks was that the positions were silenced, 50 men known to have been killed and that night the enemy retired from that position. Sergeant Beal was himself wounded and clambered out of his car to enable his second Sgt to take over the command car and lost consciousness in getting to the ground, where he was dragged under cover by his leading Dingo commander before regaining consciousness. Whereupon he staggered into his car again took over control and continued to shoot up the enemy, inflicting many more casualties and silencing many of the positions before withdrawing. Before retiring he personally went to the rescue of a crew of an M10 which had been set on fire, and which was still under heavy fire from all sides and brought back three of the crew who were wounded. Upon getting back under cover he lost consciousness and was evacuated.
Through his skillful handling no one was injured except himself and the three crew members from the M10. He had left many enemy dead, destroyed four bazookas, and captured 14 prisoners including two officers.
Corporal W H Kay. 1st King's Dragoon Guards. Distinguished Conduct Medal.
On 21st July 1944 Corporal Kay was leading point of an armoured car patrol reconnoitering a route to Anghiari. On encountering an enemy position held by four Companies, he jumped out of his vehicle and stormed, single handed, four enemy weapon pits with a bren gun. He silenced all four, but after silencing the third the bren gun was shot out of his hand, so he finished the fourth off with grenades. After using all his grenades he ran back to his vehicle and seizing a tommy gun knocked out four bazookas inflicting many casualties on the enemy who were completely disorganized by his courageous act. Upon seeing his Troop Leader wounded he rushed to his assistance pulling him under cover whilst under withering fire from all sides.
This corporal set a fine example of coolness and courage to the rest of his Troop and it was largely through him that the engagement was brought to a successful conclusion.
