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Mention in Despatches Certificate to the 6Th Duke

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Mention in Despatches Certificate to the 6Th Duke MENTION IN DESPATCHES CERTIFICATE TO THE 6TH DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S WHO A CAPTAIN OF NO 2 COMMANDO WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION LEADING HIS MEN DURING A FIERCE ACTION AT SALERNO. THIS HIS ONLY NAMED AWARD MENTION IN DESPATCHES CERTIFICATE, NAMED TO ‘LIEUTENANT (T/CAPTAIN) THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S REGIMENT (W. RIDING)’, DATED 28 SEPTEMBER 1944, CONTAINED IN A GLAZED FRAME, 239 X 214MM. Henry Valerian George Wellesley was born on 14 July 1912, the only son of the 5th Duke of Wellington, whom he succeeded in December 1941. He was educated at Stowe School and on 13 November 1935, as Lord Mornington, was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, joining them in early 1937 in Malta. He served with them there and in England until February 1939 when he was seconded to the King’s African Rifles. He went out to join them in East Africa and saw service with them in the Defence of Kenya against the Italians and in the successful Abyssinian Campaign. He returned to England in 1942 following a severe attack of malaria. Whilst at home on sick and compassionate leave, following the death of his father, he took his seat and made his maiden speech in the House of Lords. His adventuous spirit then prompted him to apply for Commando training, which he won through with flying colours. Appointed to No. 2 Commando, Special Service Brigade, commanded by the charismatic, Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Churchill, M.C., he took part in the invasion of Sicily and in the landings at Salerno on 9 September 1943. Captain Henry Valarian George ‘Morny’ Wellesley, the 6th Duke of Wellington, the Great- Great-Grandson of the 1st Duke of Wellington (The Iron Duke), serving in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment and attached to No. 2 Commando, Special Service Brigade, commanding No. 2 Troop, was killed in action by a hand grenade in the bitter fighting at Piegolette, 16 September 1943. Recommended for the award of the D.S.O.; posthumously mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 28 September 1944. SALERNO LANDINGS 9TH SEPTEMBER 1943 Subsequent to the successful landings of No. i command o and,4rRoyar Marine commando north of Salerno, captain Henry Wellesley, 6th Duke of wellington was heavily engaged in the fiercely contested actions against vastly superior numbers of German infantry, supported by armour, who had only recently taken over the strongly fortified defensive positions vacated by the vanquished Italian army. The prime objective of the invading commando elements was to take and hold the precipitous Molina Pass. The road through this steep-sided pass was the main supply route from the main German garrison of Naples, a few miles further north along the Italian coast and which would inevitably be used for German reinforcements to counter the main thrust of the Salerno landings. During the course of these fiercely fought encounters, captain Henry valarian George Wellesley, 6tr Duke of Wellington, (universally known as ‘Motny’) in the magnificent military traditions of his illustrious forebears, was recommended for the award of the Distinguished Service order by his Commanding officer, Lieutenant-colonel Jack Churchill M.C., officer Commanding No. 2 Commando. His gallantry was conspicuous and his citation for the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order, for his leadership and most gallant actions during the hard-pressed Commando's desperate counter-attack against superior en-circling enemy assault troops on the 12tt September at the Molina Pass, was at his Commando Head when he was killed in action. In the course of this counter-attack on the 13tr September near Vietri, both 41 RM Commando and No- 2 Commando suffered heavy casualties. 41 RM Commando particularly, suffered eight officers wounded, including their C.O. and three missing, together with seventy odd other ranks casualties. No. 2 Commando lost one officer and four other ranks killed and thirty-three other ranks wounded The successful counter-attack, purposefully led by Captain the Duke of Wellington, proved to be the turning point in the bloodiest and costliest encounter of the Salerno landings, a brief overview of which, is described in the very graphic War Diary of No 2 Commando. WAR DIARY, NO.2 COMMANDO, SEPTEMBER 1943_ SALERNO Vietri 13.9.43 – dawn - Salerno was again mortared at dawn. At the same time, reports from Troops of No. 2 Commando stated that an enemy attack was in progress, covered by a barrage of mortar fire on their front and flanks. The enemy infiltrated through on the right above No. 41 RM Commando's position in the valley and set up a M.G. post on the ring contour to the South East of DRAGONE from whence it fired into the rear of No. 2 Commandos position. Fire support was at once called for and the 7l't Field Regt. RA replied magnificently with defensive fire, which was intense and extremely accurate. No.2 Commando their stood ground and fought back, though their flanks were turned and they were sustaining casualties from mortars, S.A. fire, hand grenades and shells. one Troop of No. 41 RM Commando was ordered to No.2 Commando's assistance and O.C. No. 2 Commando organised a counter-attack with one Troop ofNo. 2 Commando and one Troop of No. 41 RM Commando. At this moment Major Lawrie, 2nd i/c No. 2 commando was killed and captain the Duke of wellington and Major Edwards of No. 4l RM commando took the counter-attack forward. The counter-attack proved to be the turning point in the battle and the O.C.. No. 2 Commando was able to report that the enemy were beginning to retire behind smoke. All the original positions were re-taken and the Commando settled down to hold positions with depleted Troops and to evacuate the wounded. For two hours shelling and mortaring of the hill continued but the enemy did not return. The action cost the commando, five officers killed, including two Troop leaders and two officers wounded and of other Ranks, twenty one were killed, seven missing and forty-one- wounded. Major Lawrie, captains R.F. Broome, F. Mason and Lieutenants Brunswick and J. Rosling were the officers killed; Lieutenants Keep and Peters were wounded _ total casualties 76. Mercatello 15.9.43 - l830hrs - On arrival at Mercatello, the commando were met by the commander, 167 Brigade who described a critical situation which had developed in the area of Whitecross Hill and the Pimple (a high point overlooking the valley). The Commando was ordered to search the valley enclosed by the road South East of the pimple, clearing it of enemy. The commando moved off for its long advance over broken ground and terraced slopes, thickly covered with vines. There was no moon yet and in order to keep in touch, Lieutenant-colonel Churchill MC decided to move in six parallel troop columns. Troops kept in touch with each other by calling "COMMANDO” to each other, this German method of advance having been found to give confidence to the men during a night approach when surprise was not essential. Mercatello 15.9.43 - 2400hrs - The Commando returned to the starting point with 136 German prisoners, which was more than the whole Division had captured to date. No sooner had they returned than they were told to return up the valley and take and hold The Pimple and the village of Piegolette, both of which objective they had previously occupied. Piegolette 16.9.43 - 0100hrs -The Commando moved forward again, this time proceeding up the road. The moon was low up and visibility bright. Enemy resistance was increasing and the volume of fire from the enemies positions was mounting. Piegolatte was again captured after close fighting among the houses, many enemy weapons being taken, including 4 mortars, stick grenades etc. and many thousands of rounds of ammunition- 1 and 2 Troops advanced-to the Pimple, the right Troop (No.2) under command of Captain, The Duke of Wellington. Resistance from this feature was intense including the fire of M.G. 34s (machine guns), the enemy as usual, was throwing stick-grenades freely - it was here that Captain, Duke of Wellington was killed by a hand grenade and many of his Troops were also killed or wounded. Lieutenant G.A. parsons and lieutenant J. Bare were severely wounded. The action is further described in an extract from ‘The Green Beret’; “The moon had now risen and in its light they made their way to village. the outskirts of the Here the Germans began to show fight but the little place was stormed and the commando got into touch with their comrades of the Royal Marines on the right. Captain the Duke of wellington then led two Troops towards the second objective, the pimple. He was met almost at once with withering machine gun fire and a hail of grenades and was killed, together with many of his men. 'He had fought like a lion’ said one who was with him 'through all those bitter days and had worthily sustained a great name’ he survivors felt back to the village. Courage alone could not take the hill.” On the night of 18/19th September, both Commandos were finally relieved and returned to Sicily to refit. The Salerno operations had cost the two Commandos almost 50% of their strength' They had passed a severe test with flying colours. Indeed it was largely through their efforts that the beachhead was finally secured. A link up was achieved with the British Eighth Army at Auletta on the 20ft September and on 1st October, Naples finally fell.
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