Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

27th Lancers, 9th Armoured Brigade, I Canadian Corps, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

May 14th, 1945

"At MR 588480 on the morning of 9 Dec 44 Sgt. PARK was commanding a troop holding the bridge over the FOZZATONE. His main position was in a house 50 yards from the bridge with section posts on the canal bank and forward of the canal. The woods came down to the canal astride the road. No. 3 Troop was on his left in a house used as an OP: this house was surrounded on three sides by floods. On the right a group of PARTISANS were watching the canal.

At 0900 hours the enemy attacked in strength of approx. 60. Fire from Sgt. Park's troop halted them on the edge of the wood, killing at least 10. His forward section had, however, been overrun and the two Browning gunners killed. As the remainder of the section withdrew to the main position, Tpr. Edwards fell wounded on the bridge. Sgt. Park at once ordered a fire plan to give cover, and he himself ran forward and carried Edwards back to the house; he was under heavy Spandau fire.

The partisans had by now vanished, and the enemy was infiltrating over the canal to the East. The troop was under constant mortar and shell fire.

Owing to bridging difficulties no reinforcements could be expected for 3 hours, and the ground in the rear of the position was completely open. Sgt. Park's Squadron Leader spoke on the wireless and asked him if a withdrawal would be possible should the enemy surround him. Sgt. Park replied that he might succeed in withdrawing his own troop, but that he had now 7 casualties (4 being stretcher cases) and that the left hand troop would not be able to withdraw and would be isolated. He therefore intended to hold the position. At 1300 hrs Air reported enemy reinforcing and a further attack was mounted at 1500 hrs. By this time a troop of tanks with a PPA patrol had arrived at the bridge and the situation was restored, the enemy withdrawing leaving his dead.

This NCO displayed outstanding personal courage and fine leadership throughout the action."