Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Sergeant

Unit:

1st Battalion Loyal Worth Lancashire Regiment, British Army

Awarded on:

June 25th, 1945

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with 1st Battalion, Loyal Worth Lancashire Regiment, in action near Florence, Italy on 25 August 1944. As his company was advancing up a steep and broken ridge, the enemy suddenly opened very heavy machine gun fire from strong points in fortified houses, causing many casualties, immediately without waiting for orders, Lance Sergeant Potts organized an attack on the nearest enemy post. Placing a machine gun in position to give covering fire, he led the assault on the house and as the first to rush the door he killed several enemy soldiers with his automatic weapon, thereby assisting to wipe out the entire garrison. The silencing of this particular post enabled his company commander to carry out his plan for dealing with the enemy and in rescuing the wounded. Lance Sergeant Potts' outstanding courage, leadership and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service."

Headquarters: U.S. Army-Mediterranean Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 101