Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

59th Light Aid Detachment, 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment), 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, 8th Indian Infantry Division, British Indian Army

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1944

"On 12 May 1944 when the tanks of the 12 Gdn Armoured Regiment crossed the GARI River SOUTH of S.ANGELO (MR 862153) many tanks became bogged in the soft river flat. Captain Patton, Regiment '1 MD Officer, proceeded to the crossing with his recovery tank, and working under heavy mortar fire, machine gun and rifle fire succeeded in recovering twenty-three of the bogged tanks while in full view of the enemy. His coolness and determination under fire while directing recovery operations from outside the tank was an inspiration to his recovery crews and spurred them on to greater efforts. His success in recovering twenty-three tanks was a vital factor in the support given the Infantry during the crossing and the subsequent securing of a firmly held bridgehead."