Strange error in Melfa Bridgehead briefing

[Allan Wotherspoon]

Noticed a strange error in the Melfa Bridgehead briefing notes. It says that the Victoria Cross was won by Lt. E. J. Perkins, but as far as I can find no one by that name ever won the VC. There was a VC won that day, but it was by John Keefer Mahony of the Westminster Regiment.

[Hans]

Egads!

Thanks for noticing that error. Yep honored the wrong hero on that one. Here is the correct list for the honors won that day.

For their contributions to this action, Major Mahony received the Victoria Cross, Lieutenant-Colonel P.A. Griffin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Lieutenant Perkins was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Perkins' Troop Sergeant, C.N. Macey, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal while another soldier in his unit, Trooper Jacob Funk, won the Military Medal for his actions at the Melfa River.

Hans

[Michael Dorosh]

Perkins was nominated for the VC for that one, see my website at http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/vc.htm - the page on VC nominees. It was decided to give just one VC for the action, and the infantry won out over the armour.

I was at a dinner last year with the guy who passed the ammo to Funk during the action in which he won the MM for knocking out a Panther with a PIAT. Quite an exploit.

[Hans]

Thanks for the info Michael, I'm at work and don't have my notes on that scenario. Either a source or myself misread that info somewhere.

How annoying!