Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Trooper

Unit:

Reconnaissance Troop, 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)), 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On the 24th May 1944, at approximately 1700 hours, a portion of the reconnaissance troop, 2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona Horse, Royal Canadians) together with "A" Company, Westminster Regiment (Motor) were holding a weak bridgehead over the River Melfa, just south of Highway 6. The bridgehead was being threatened by a self-propelled 88 millimeter gun which was firing from a range of about 250 yards to the left front. This same gun had also done serious damage to "A" Squadron of the same unit, which was on the east side of the river opposite the gun.
Although fully cognizant of the danger involved, Trooper Funk and two members of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) volunteered to destroy the self-propelled gun with a PIAT. They crept along the edge of the river bank towards the gun until they were about 150 yards from it. Trooper Funk operated the PIAT while the two members of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) gave covering fire with a Bren. The first round from the PIAT failed to reach the target because of intervening foliage. Trooper Funk then crawled forward to approximately 100 yards from the gun and fired again. This round fell short. Trooper Funk fired again but the round went over. The fourth round struck the suspension and the crew immediately bailed out, two of them being shot by the Bren gunners while the remaining three got around the self-propelled gun and disappeared. About three hours later the bridgehead was again attacked by three Panther tanks and Trooper Funk once more manned the PIAT, at a range of approximately 175 yards, thereby materially assisting in preventing the tanks from overrunning the position.
By his personal courage, coolness, energy and initiative, this soldier destroyed a formidable piece of enemy equipment which was causing serious casualties to our own troops and by the same token was threatening our hold on the bridgehead.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)