The London Gazette of TUESDAY, the Igth of DECEMBER, 1944 Published Ty Jtoifyorfty

WurnD. 36849 5841 SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the igth of DECEMBER, 1944 published ty jtoifyorfty Registered as a newspaper WEDNESDAY, 20 DECEMBER, 1944 Department 'of National Defence, Ottawa, feet and having to expose himself to the full igth December, 1944. view of the enemy, Private Smith fired the Piat and hit the tank, putting it out of action. The KING has been graciously pleased to Ten German infantry immediately jumped approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS off the back of the tank and charged him tor- with Schmeissers and grenades. Without No. K 52880 Private Ernest Alvia Smith, The hesitation Private Smith moved out onto the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. road and with his Tommy gun at point In Italy on the night of 2ist/22nd blank range, killed four Germans and drove October, 1944, a Canadian Infantry Brigade the remainder back. Almost immediately was ordered to establish a bridgehead across another tank opened fire and more enemy the Savio River. infantry closed in on Smith's position. The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were Obtaining some abandoned Tommy gun selected as the spearhead of the attack and magazines from a ditch, he steadfastly held in weather most unfavourable to the opera- his position, protecting his comrade -and tion they crossed the river and captured their fighting the enemy with his Tommy gun objectives in spite of strong opposition from until they finally gave up and withdrew in the enemy. disorder. Torrential rain had caused the Savio River One tank and both self-propelled guns had to rise six feet in five hours and as the soft been destroyed by.this time, but yet another vertical banks made it impossible to bridge tank swept the area with fire from a longer the river no tanks or anti-tank guns could be range. Private Smith, still showing utter •taken across, the raging stream to the sup- contempt for enemy fire, helped his wounded port of the rifle companies. friend to cover and obtained medical aid for As the right forward company was con- him behind a nearby building. He then solidating its objective it was suddenly returned to his position beside the road to counter-attacked by a troop of three Mark V await the possibility of a further enemy Panther tanks supported by two self-propelled attack. guns and about thirty infantry and the situa- No further immediate attack developed, tion appeared almost hopeless. and as a result the battalion was able to Under heavy fire from the approaching consolidate the bridgehead position so vital enemy tanks, Private Smith, showing great to the success of the whole operation, which initiative and inspiring leadership, led his led to the eventual capture of San Giorgio Piat Group of two men across an open field Di Cesena and a^ further advance to the to a position from which the Piat could best Ronco River. be employed. Leaving one man on the Thus, by the dogged determination, out- weapon, Private Smith crossed the road with standing devotion to duty and superb a companion, and obtained another Piat. gallantry of this private soldier, his comrades Almost immediately an enemy tank came were so inspired that the bridgehead was down the road firing its machine guns along held firm against all enemy attacks, pending the line of the ditches. Private Smith's the arrival of tanks and anti-tank guns some comrade was wounded. At a range of thirty hours later..

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