TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Clancy, John Anthony

Date of birth:
August 27th, 1918 (Walkerton/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:
March 17th, 2008 (Salt Spring Island/British Columbia, Canada)
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
No. 3 Platoon, "A" Company, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1945
For devotion to duty and outstanding gallantry, Normandy 1st August - 5th September 1944. This officer, by his personal example, sustaining courage and initiative has been a great inspiration to all men of his company throughout the above campaign. His utter disregard for his personal safety in difficult situations has become a byword in the battalion. On 18th August 1944 at 2230 hours at Goustranville, "A" Company was given as an objective in a Battalion night attack, the south Bridge over the eastern tributary of the river Dives. Captain Clancy was Acting Second-in-Command of the Company at the time. He led No.3 Platoon on an assault against one Machine Gun position, and then pinned down by another off to a flank he personally organised and led a small group armed with grenades, silenced this second enemy position and took five prisoners. The momentum with which this officer led his Platoon enabled them to capture the bridge, vital to his Brigade, before the enemy could demolish it. Numerous prisoners and a considerable amount of arms and equipment were captured by his command. This splendid effort by Captain Clancy is but one concrete example of his outstanding courage, initiative and leadership which has been so much in evidence and a characteristic of his work throughout the whole period.
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals
Awarded on:
June 12th, 1953
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Sources

Photo