Townsend, Albert Anthony

Date of birth:: December 29th, 1902 (Manchester, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: February 26th, 1943
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Medjez-el-Bab
Plot: 16. Row: G. Grave: 13.
Service number:: 3436177 (NCO)/178972 (Officer)
Nationality:: British

Biography

Career/Promotions:
17 June 1919 in the Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion
11 December 1920: posted out to India
6 December 1933: Acting Corporal
1 April 1925: Corporal
19 September 1928: Lance Sergeant
22 maart 1930: Sergeant

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Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Army)

Awarded on:: October 1937

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, 11th Infantry Brigade, 78th Infantry Division, British Army
Awarded on:: September 23rd, 1943

Recommendation:
"At Medjez El Bab on 25th November 1942, this officer showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy. When his own and ‘C’ Company were pinned down to the river banks by withering machine-gun fire, he crawled forward and got his light machine-gun into a position from which he could return the enemy’s fire. Although observed by the enemy, he continued to work his gun in an effort to help extricate ‘C’ Company. Later in the day, whilst ‘D’ Company was covering the withdrawal of the main part of the Battalion, he remained until the last possible moment with a few men, giving covering fire until his company was safely across. His own withdrawal was effected across an open plain under enemy fire."

WO 373/2/152 (posthumously awarded)