- Contributed by听
- Jacky Long (father Harold Long)
- People in story:听
- Harold William Long
- Location of story:听
- Otterloo
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2048528
- Contributed on:听
- 16 November 2003
This is taken from the citation: 'This NCO showed courage, resource and determination of the highest order when his troop position at Otterloo was penetrated by the enemy on the night April 16/17th, 1945. During the early stages of the battle Sergeant Long's detachment suffered 50% casualties. Sergt. Long personally conducted the evacuation of two seriously wounded through an area controlled by the enemy, it being impossible to distinguish friend or foe, but vital to have the wounds attended to at once. Segt. Long returned to his gun and, seeing his depleted detachment a little shaken, he ordered them and two reinforcements from another detachment to do five minutes kneeling gun drill, going through the motions but making ammunition numbers stand up for 'ram-shoot-load' procedure.
During this time his gun was under spasmodic small arms fire. The detachment immediately responded to Sergt. Long's example.
Fire orders continued to come down during the night and the Germans mortared the position heavily every time fire opened up.
Owing to Sergt. Long's firm control the detachment behaved as if they were at practice camp. Next morning the position was sniped, but Sergt. Long allowed no relaxation from normal gun discipline.'
If there is anyone who can give me any more information about this time and event I would be so pleased to hear from you.
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