Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Corporal

Unit:

77 Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, British Army

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1945

Citation:
"On the evening of 25 Mar 45 No. 1957864 L/Cpl JESSUP G. and No 6409984 Spr CHAPPEL J. were acting as skeleton relief crew, as Dvr & W/Op/Comd respectively on LVT No 5822157 supporting the assault of the 1 SS Bde on WESEL. When returning upstream from the far bank of the RHINE near WESEL at approx 1945 hrs the engine of the LVT failed and it drifted rapidly downstream out of control.

American troops mistaking the Buffalo in the gathering darkness, for an enemy craft apparantly attempting to sink the bridges downstream, opened fire with Bofors guns. Despite shouting, the firing continued. L/Cpl JESSUP immediately ordered the three passengers to empty the two petrol jerricans, and to prepare them for use as life-floats. He showed them the two kapok floats in case it should be necessary to abandon craft.
At this stage Spr CHAPPEL was seriously wounded in the shoulder. L/Cpl JESSUP went to administer morphia to him and on returning found that the three passengers had abandoned the craft, taking with them one of the only two kapok floats.
Left alone with the wounded men L/Cpl JESSUP tried to get the anchor to hold when the craft later drifted into shallow water. The craft began to make water and he decided to abandon it. With almost unbelievable skill L/Cpl JESSUP contrived to get the wounded man overboard and on the remaining kapok float. At the same time he scuttled the craft by opening the ramp door, to prevent it drifing into the bridges downstream.

He then swam downstream with the float until they were again fired on, this time by British Troops. L/Cpl JESSUP was twice wounded, once in the arm and once in the leg. The filling was ripped out of the float, and it rapidly became waterlogged and useless.

After drifting a further distance downstream the two wounded men were recognised by a RA Sgt, who swam out with a line and helped them ashore, where they both received medical attention.

L/Cpl JESSUP displayed great gallantry and consistent disregard of his own personal safety throughout.

By his courage and sheer determination he was able though himself twice wounded, to save the life of a comrade and to prevent damage to the bridge at a critical stage of the operation, in circumstances that were far beyond the call of duty."