Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

6th Royal Tank Regiment, 3rd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, British Army

Awarded on:

April 25th, 1941

"During the actions on 10th and 11th December 1940, Sergeant Rycroft, on two occasions, had to leave his tank under heavy fire, on the first occasion to put out a fire which had started at the rear of his tank and on the second to assist and supervise the towing away of another tank.
His coolness and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy and the complete disregard for his own personal safety were a fine example to all ranks."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Warrant Officer 3rd Class

Unit:

6th Royal Tank Regiment, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, British Army

Awarded on:

September 24th, 1942

"On 22/7/42, this Warrant officer discovered the existence of an enemy strong point within 500 yards of our forward positions south of Ruweisat Ridge. This strong point consisted of a depression and anti-tank guns and machine guns, the whole surrounded by wire and a minefield. Staff Sergeant Major Rycroft went forward on foot to within 300 yards of the enemy and mapped all the defences. Subsequently he personally directed the fire of the Regiment on the various targets by standing on top of his tank. In the course of this he was wounded, but returned into action immediately after his wounds had been treated. The whole action resulted in the total destruction of eight German Mk III or IV tanks, and several guns without loss to the Regiment, and this success was in great measure due to the resource and disregard of personal safety by this warrant officer."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

"A" Squadron, 46th (Liverpool Welsh) Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, 78th Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

March 23rd, 1944

"Captain Rycroft was second-in-command "A" Squadron of 46th Battalion R.T.R, which attacked the SAN SALVO ridge with 5 Buffs on 3 November 1943. The Squadron Commander's tank was hit at 0730 hours and the Squadron Commander wounded. Captain Rycroft took command and led the squadron on the objective from 0745 until 1830 hours, when he was ordered to rally back in the darkness. Throughout the day this Squadron remained on the objective fighting A/Tk guns, S.P. guns and enemy tanks on ground which was completely dominated from VINEYARD HILL feature, the whole time in possession of the enemy. At 1600 hours an enemy counter-attack came in on the right flank supported by 12 tanks. Captain Rycroft's Squadron, which had then only 7 battleworthy tanks left, formed to a flank and was entirely instrumental in beating off the enemy attack. Throughout the period of this action, lasting for 13 hours, Captain Rycroft displayed personal courage and gallantry of the highest order and fought his Squadron with all conditions of terrain and visibility in the enemy's favour and it was entirely an action of tanks against enemy tanks, S.P. guns and A/Tk guns. Captain Rycroft's own tank accounted for at least two enemy tanks and damaged several others."

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

"8th Army" bar

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)