Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

No. 3 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government

Awarded on:

January 27th, 1944

Cape Spartivento Italy 27th August-5th September.This NCO was part of a patro; of one officer and six other ranks detailed to report by wireless on enbemy activities around Cape Spartivento, between August 27th and 5th September 1943. On the 28th August the wireless having become useless thepatrol was ordered by their officer to fend fir themselves as the party was too large to subsist. On 1st September Cpl j.Denham together with L/Cpl J.McClelland was concealed in some scrub on th eside of the mountain.Three Italian soldiers came towards them searching the ground and firing into bushes.These NCO's shot them dead.On 3rd September they saw an Italian Corporal comae out of a farm and followed him for 5 miles, when he entered a valley fullof Italian soldiers.Soon after they captured a Sergeant, three privates and an officer who could speak English. The Italian Sergeant was sent to inform his Colonel of the situation, and returned asking them to go with him. The NCO's said the Colonel was to come to them alone, which he did.He surrendered to them 6 officers and approximately 400 men of the 143rd Infantry Regiment.The NCO's took it in turn to guard theprisoners until they handed them over to the Canadians 48 hrs later on the 5th September.In the meanwhile they were able to keep ythem quiet by giving them a short talk on British Policy .Throughout these operations this NCO behaved with coolness and boldness.