Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

August 9th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, 147th Infantry Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

January 24th, 1946

"Sjt. Mooney took over command of a pl (*platoon) in July 44. He has commanded that pl until now.
At LE HAVRE, when his coy were putting in an attack to capture a hill, a spandau was holding up the advance of his pl by its accurate fire. Sjt. Mooney personally led a against this spandau and silenced it, killing two, and capturing another of the team. By his magnificent bravery and complete disregard for his own personal safety in attacking and silencing this spandau Sjt. Mooney enabled his pl to reach their objective.
At MERXPLAS, Sjt. Mooney again led his pl with great dash and again personally led a (..) against a spandau team and captured it. Having reached the objective he ordered the pl to dig in and although the pl were being fired on by numerous spandau and one SP gun, he walked round his pl position organisizng the defence of his area and encouraging the men.
At STONE HR near WUUSTWEZEL, although attacked by 4 tanks and approx 100 infantry and although his pl were almost surrounded, Sjt. Mooney refused to be downharted and continued to lead, organise, and encourage his men to hold on and beat off all attacks until the enemy eventually withdrew,
At BREMBOSCH he led his pl over an A/Tk ditch which was covered with fire and filled with water and captured his objective and 30 prisoners.
At ROOSENDAAL he again led his pl over an A/Tk ditch which was covered with fire and filled with water. Having reached his objective Sjt. Mooney found that a party of the enemy had got into a farm house approx 200 yards in front of his objective and were bringing heavy fire on his men.
Sjt. Mooney personally led a party which attacked and captured the house and brought back under very heavy fire approx 20 prisoners.
During the 4 months period on the island near NIJMEGEN, he never relaxed his discipline over his pl. At this time he took out at least patrols. He always achieved more than he was told to do and always gained valuable information for future attacks.
Sjt. Mooney's pl has done as much under his command as any other pl in the Bn. This has been due almost entirely to Sjt. Mooney's inspired leadership, his perceptual cheerfulness, his great sense of humor and above all to his wonderful example of courage, bravery and complete disregard of his own personal safety.
For his magnificent brave conduct throughout the whole campaign I recommended he be awarded the D.C.M."
3 June 1945