Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

"B" Company, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

August 31st, 1944

Recommendation:
Lieutenant William Grant Herbert commanded a platoon of “B” Company of the Queen’s Own Rifles which was an assault company during the landing at Bernières-sur-Mer at approximately 0800 hours on 6 June 1944. The Coy was met with severe machine-gun fire from a pill box 100 yards to its front and within the first few minutes there were sixty-five casualties. Lieutenant Herbert, himself suffering from a head wound and shrapnel in the leg, ran forward with two of his men and assaulted the pill box with grenades and Sten machine carbine. As a result of this act, the pill box was put out of action and the remainder of the coy were able to proceed with their all-important task of eliminating the beach defences. Due to this complete disregard for his personal safety and his bravery and determination to carry out his commander’s intention, the task was successfully completed and the coy which followed in the landing on the beach suffered no casualties from the beach defences.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 August, 1944.