Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Sergeant

Unit:

Carrier Platoon, 1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's), 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On the 10 April 1945, at Schalkhaar, Holland, the Carrier Platoon was detailed to protect the right flank of the battalion on the advance to the objective. Acting Sergeant Minnis, with his section, was placed on the extreme right flank. This post was taken up just before dawn in a thick mist and owing to the rapid advance of the battalion was soon isolated. As the sun rose the mist evaporated and visibility became better and about 0800 hours movement was seen to the section’s right front and on closer examination the movement proved to be the enemy in some force supported by tanks.
Sergeant Minnis realizing that his position had been discovered opened fire and was successful in killing ten of the enemy and wounding an undetermined number. The enemy then opened fire with its tanks and succeeded in getting a direct hit on the building the Sergeant was in, wounding three and killing the second in command of the section.
Undeterred by this fire, the section continued to put down a heavy curtain of small arms fire from its automatic rifles thus enabling the rest of the platoon to be deployed to assist them. Through the medium of his wireless set Sergeant Minnis was able to get support from three inch mortars and so effectively controlled the fire that 20 enemy were killed. Sergeant Minnis noticing that 23 of the enemy were trapped in a communication trench by our fire personally led his section forward and succeeded in taking them prisoner.
This NCO displayed great personal courage and exceptional leadership throughout the whole of this action and his cool demeanor inspired his men to fight off a determined attack by the enemy which, had it been successful, would have jeopardized the whole battalion.