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The KING has been graciously pleased to
approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —
Captain (temporary Major) William Philip Sidney (42108),
Grenadier Guards (Girvan).
For superb courage and utter disregard of danger
in the action near Carroceto, in the Anzio Beach Head, in
February, 1944.
The period 6th-10th February, 1944, was one of critical
importance to the whole state of the Anzio Beach Head. The
Germans attacked a British Division with elements of six
different divisions and a continuous series of fierce local
hand-to-hand battles was fought, each one of which had its
immediate reaction on the position of other troops in the
neighbourhood and on the action as a whole. It was of supreme
importance that every inch of ground should be doggedly,
stubbornly and tenaciously fought for. The area
Carroceto-Buonriposo Ridge was particularly vital.
During the night 7th-8th February, Major Sidney
was commanding the support company of a battalion of the
Grenadier Guards, company headquarters being on the left of
battalion headquarters in a gully South- West of Carroceto
Bridge. Enemy infantry who had by-passed the forward rifle
company North-West of Carroceto, heavily attacked in the
vicinity of Major Sidney's company headquarters and successfully
penetrated into the wadi. Major Sidney collected the crew of a 3
inch mortar firing nearby and personally led an attack with
Tommy guns and hand grenades, driving the enemy out of the
gully. He then sent the detachment back to continue their mortar
firing while he and a handful of men took up a position on the
edge of the gully in order again to beat off the enemy who were
renewing their attack in; some strength. Major Sidney and his
party succeeded in keeping the majority of the Germans out but a
number reached a ditch 20 yards in front, from which they could
outflank Major Sidney's position. This officer— in full view and
completely exposed—dashed forward without hesitation to a point
whence he could engage the enemy with his Tommy gun at point
blank range. As a result the enemy withdrew leaving a number of
dead.
On returning to his former position on the edge
of the gully, Major Sidney kept two guardsmen with him and sent
the remainder back for -more ammunition and grenades. While they
were away, the enemy vigorously renewed his attack, and a
grenade struck Major Sidney in the face, bounced off and
exploded, wounding him and one guardsman and killing the second
man. Major Sidney, single-handed and wounded in the thigh, kept
the enemy at bay until the ammunition party returned five
minutes later, when once more they were ejected. Satisfied that
no further attack would be made, he made his way to a nearby
cave to have his wound dressed, but before this could be done
the enemy attacked again. He at once returned to his post and
continued to engage the enemy for another hour, by which time
the left of the battalion position was consolidated and the
enemy was finally driven off. Only then did Major Sidney, by
that time weak from loss, of blood and barely able to walk,
allow his wound to be attended to.
Throughout the next day contact with the enemy
was so close that it was impossible to evacuate this officer
until after dark. During that time, as before, although
extremely weak, he continued to act as a tonic and inspiration
to all with whom he came in contact.
Throughout the engagement Major Sidney showed a
degree of efficiency, coolness, gallantry and complete disregard
for his personal safety of a most exceptional order, and there
is no doubt that as a result of his
action, taken in the face of great odds, the battalion's
position was re-established with vitally far reaching
consequences on the battle as a whole.
5th Battalion. LG 28/3/44
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