"For gallant and unselfish bravery in silencing enemy machine-gun posts
by bayonet assault at Tell El Eisa on 22 July 1942, thus allowing his
Company to continue the advance. During an attack on strong German positions in the early morning
of 22 July 1942, the Company to which Private Gurney belonged was held
up by intense machine-gun fire from posts less than 100 yards ahead,
heavy casualties being inflicted on our troops, all the officers being
killed or wounded. Grasping the seriousness of the situation and without hesitation,
Private Gurney charged the nearest enemy machine-gun post, bayoneted
three men and silenced the post. He then continued on to a second post,
bayoneted two men and sent out a third as a prisoner. At his stage a
stick grenade was thrown at Private Gurney which knocked him to the
ground. He rose again, picked up his rifle and charged a third post
using the bayonet with great vigor. He then disappeared from view, and
later his body was found in an enemy post. By this single-handed act of gallantry in the face of a determined
enemy, Private Gurney enabled his Company to press forward to its
objective, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. The successful
outcome of this engagement was almost entirely due to Private Gurney's
heroism at the moment when it was needed."
From Pvt. Gurney's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on September 8, 1942.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Melonie
Gurney's tale from The Argus.
Hosted in Western Australia.
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