Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Corporal

Unit:

No. 3 Platoon, 21st Independent Parachute Company, 1st Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

January 4th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

For gallantry in action in September 1944 in Arnhem, the Netherlands.
On the 23rd September 1944, Private Barclay assumed command of his section when all his N.C.O.s had become casualties. Soon after taking command he saw that his bren gunner occupying a position in his right flank had been killed. He immediately left his trench and under heavy Machine Gun fire rescued the gun which he proceeded to operate. As at this time his platoon only had one other gun capable of firing, his action undoubtedly enabled them to repel increasingly strong enemy attacks.