Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Corporal

Unit:

No.13 Platoon, "C" Company, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

March 8th, 1945

Citation:
"On 20 September 1944 “C” Company of the Seaforth Highalnders of Canada was ordered to secure the crossroads at C DES VESCOVO (MR 830953) (code name COCKSTOWN). After a night approach march the company came to within 300 yards of the objective at approximately 0730 hours, when the leading section, under command of K53850 Lance Corporal Duncan Gordon SKINNER came under heavy machine gun fire from dug in positions on the face of a 70 foot cliff on the edge of a draw to the left.
Lance Corporal SKINNER immediately placed his bren gun crew in position to give covering fire, and continued to advance in front of the company with the rest of his section. Within 150 yards of the objective, Lance Corporal SKINNER signaled his Bren crew forward, but they were unable to advance due to very heavy machine gun and mortar fire, which had now been brought to bear from another enemy positions on the right.

Ordering his section to follow, lance Corporal SKINNER led his men in a dash to a house occupied by Germans on the far side of the draw. This NCO by skillful handling his men, and although without his bren gun crew, cleared the house with hand grenades and rifles, killing eight of the enemy, the total number of German occupants.

From this position Lance Corporal SKINNER was able to give right flank protection for his company, which had to proceed along a semi-sunked road, and he received orders to hold his position at all costs. The position was immediately counter attacked, and was subjected to heavy mortar and machine gun fire. One German soldier came to within a few yards of the house with a Bazooka and opened fire. Lance Corporal SKINNER crept out of the back of the house alone and armed with a Tommy gun, crawled into a position from which he killed the German soldier.

For a period of three hours, from 0830 hours to 1130 hours, lance Corporal SKINNER and his men held this half ruined house, best off three counter attacks, and under heavy enemy fire made it possible for the company to pass through on the left and outflank the enemy. In this operation “C” Company captured 85 prisoners and counted 30 German dead. All objectives were taken, and as a result when this success was exploited, the enemy was finally driven from the whole ridge.

By his outstanding bravery and leadership under the most difficult conditions Lance Corporal SKINNER was largely responsible for the success of the operation."

Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 March, 1945.