Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Sergeant

Unit:

C Company, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1944

Recommendation:
The attack of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on the Adolf Hitler Line in the area Map Reference Square 7419 began at 0600 hours on 23 May 1944. Corporal (Acting Sergeant) Roy Douglas Edkins was in command of 15 Platoon, "C" Company, one of the leading platoons and one which suffered very heavy casualties during this attack. With total disregard for his personal safety he went from section to section keeping them in contact with each other, in the blinding dust and smoke of the battle, visibility being further impaired by a morning mist which had settled over the front. In addition to machine gun and mortar fire, intense enemy fire came from counter barrage artillery, many of which were air bursts. 88-mm and 75-mm guns were firing over open sights from tank turrets mounted in concrete pill boxes.
Sergeant Edkins led his platoon over four hundred yards of rough and broken ground in the face of this heavy enemy fire during which time he suffered multiple shrapnel wounds. He continued to lead his platoon until he was wounded for the second time, when he could progress no further due to his wounds. He turned command of his platoon over to one of his Corporals with orders to continue the attack. He persistently refused to allow stretcher bearers to carry him back. After his platoon had gone on, this Non-Commissioned Officer observed a German sniper some distance back, holding up the advance of "B" Company, which was following "C" Company, from a well prepared and camouflaged "foxhole"; he stalked and captured this sniper single handed, thereby allowing the company to continue its advance.
Through his action in continuing to lead his platoon even though wounded, Sergeant Edkins was largely responsible for the remainder of his platoon reaching the objective and set a fine example of bravery and determination. By his second action he was instrumental in making possible the advance of the following troops. Where courage was the order of the day, his was of an exceptional order.