"At Dieppe
on the 19th August, 1942, Major Porteous was detailed to act as Liaison Officer between the two detachments whose task was to assault the heavy
coast defense guns. In the initial assault Major Porteous, working with the smaller
of the two detachments, was shot at close range through the hand, the
bullet passing through his palm and entering his upper arm. Undaunted,
Major Porteous closed with his assailant, succeeded in disarming him and
killed him with his own bayonet thereby saving the life of a British
Sergeant on whom the German had turned his aim. In the meantime the larger detachment was held up, and the
officer leading this detachment was killed and the Troop Sergeant-Major fell seriously wounded. Almost immediately afterwards the only other
officer of the detachment was also killed. Major Porteous, without hesitation and in the face of a withering
fire, dashed across the open ground to take over the command of this
detachment. Rallying them, he led them in a charge which carried the
German position at the point of the bayonet, and was severely wounded
for the second time. Though shot through the thigh he continued to the
final objective where he eventually collapsed from loss of blood after
the last of the guns had been destroyed. Major Porteous's most gallant conduct, his brilliant leadership and
tenacious devotion to a duty which was supplementary to the role
originally assigned to him, was an inspiration to the whole detachment."
From Major Porteous' Victoria Cross citation, awarded on October 2, 1942.
Another honored ally,
Brian
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