"On 6th June, Lt.Col. Foote led his Battalion, which had been subjected
to very heavy artillery fire, in pursuit of a superior force of the
enemy. While changing to another tank after his own had been knocked
out, Lt.Col. Foote was wounded in the neck. In spite of this he
continued to lead his Battalion from an exposed position on the outside
of a tank.
On June 13th, when ordered to delay the enemy's tanks so that the Guards
Brigade could be withdrawn from the Knightsbridge escarpment and when
the first wave of our tanks had been destroyed, Lieutenant Colonel Foote
re-organized the remaining tanks, going on foot from one tank to
another to encourage the crews under intense artillery and anti-tank
fire.
As it was of vital importance that his battalion should not give ground,
Lieutenant Colonel Foote placed his tank, which he had then entered, in
front of the others so that he could be plainly visible in the turret
as an encouragement to the other crews, in spite of the tank being badly
damaged by shell-fire and all its guns rendered useless. By his
magnificent example the corridor was kept open and the brigade was able
to march through.
Lieutenant Colonel Foote was always at the crucial point at the right
moment, and over a period of several days gave an example of outstanding
courage and leadership that it would have been difficult to surpass. His name was a byword for bravery and leadership throughout the brigade. "
From Lt.Col. Foote's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on May 18th, 1944.
A true honored ally,
Brian
Matilda II tank at The Tank Museum, England, painted to represent a similar tank used by Lieutenant Colonel Foote.
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