Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No.14 Platoon, "C" Company, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 22 September 1944 during a platoon attack on a known enemy strongpoint at, [ … ], being one of the outer defences of Calais, northeast of Hames Boucres, Sergeant Armando Gri distinguished himself by his courage and leadership under heavy fire.
In his capacity as Platoon Commander, Sergeant Armando Gri moving with the leading section of his platoon in the attack on this strongpoint when the platoon was fired upon from the point by an M.G. 42, which was then about 60 yards away, killing one man and seriously wounding a second who has subsequently died. The platoon was pinned down and took cover in ground which was inundated to a depth of about three feet. Shouting to his platoon to give him covering fire, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Armando Gri ran forward through the water, jumped some concertina wire and arrived at a point in full view of the enemy gun crew, about 30 yards from the gun, and fired at the gunner with his rifle hitting him between the eyes. He then ran in and threw two 36 grenades into the position. This did not kill the other members of the crew but forced them to surrender rather than take over the gun.
Sergeant Armando Gri’s action resulted in the wiping out of the gun, enabled his platoon to come up immediately and capture the strong point; the whole action being a diversion to lead the enemy to believe that a large-scale attack was being commenced on Calais. From the enemy’s actions since, and the reports that night on the enemy radio to the effect that such an attack had commenced on Calais, it is seen that the whole action was highly successful, and this is in a large measure due to the courageous actions of Sergeant Armando Gri.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No.14 Platoon, "C" Company, The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 7 October 1944 in the village of Oosthoek, D0302, near Aardenburg, Holland, a German counter-attack, approximately 150 in strength, approached “C” Company area, and by using enemy slit trenches and covered approaches, were able to overrun Number 14 Platoon and surround Platoon Headquarters. At the beginning of the action Sergeant Armando Gri, Platoon Commander of Number 14 Platoon, reported to Company Headquarters , and then at a great risk went back through the enemy, throwing grenades and firing his weapon. He accounted for four Germans before reaching his Platoon Headquarters, which was in a building. He continued fighting, and eventually was the only survivor, having killed or wounded twenty of the enemy. His ammunition expended, the building on fire, Sergeant Armando Gri, with his clothes burning from the intense heat, was overwhelmed and taken prisoner. His heroic actions, his complete disregard for his own life, were of paramount importance in enabling Company Headquarters to hold out against the enemy, thus preventing a breakthrough to the Leopold Canal, and materially assisting the establishment of the bridgehead which later led to the complete destruction of the German forces on the South bank of the Scheldt Estuary. Sergeant Armando Gri was determined to escape and, with this in mind, was successful in concealing his knife from the enemy. During the time the goods van in which they were confined as prisoners of war was standing on a siding, he materially assisted Captain Vilhelm Roger Schjelderup in cutting through the side of the van and in keeping up the morale of the others. On the 23 October 1944 the train pulled out for the Prisoner of War Camp, and Sergeant Armando Gri and his companions made their escape, returning to our lines on the 6 January 1945, 75 days later, bringing valuable information.