Burnt*. 36917 669 SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the $oth of JANUARY, 1945 by /tafyorfty Registered as a newspaper THURSDAY, i FEBRUARY, 1945 War Office, ist February, 1945. continued to inspire his men to resist with hand grenades, pistols and the few remaining The KING has been graciously pleased to •rifles. approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:— As, however, the enemy pressure increased, Captain Queripel decided that it was im- Captain Lionel Ernest Queripel (108181), The possible to hold the position any longer and Royal Sussex Regiment .(ist Airborne Divi- ordered his men to withdraw. Despite their sion) (Dorchester). protests, he insisted on remaining behind to In Holland on the igth September, 1944, cover their withdrawal with his automatic Captain Queripel was acting as Company pistol and a few remaining hand grenades. Commander of a composite Company com- This is the last occasion on which he was • posed of three Parachute Battalions. seen. At 14.00 hours on that day, his Com- During the whole of a period of nine hours pany was advancing along a main joad of confused and bitter fighting Captain which ran on an embankment towards Queripel displayed the highest standard of Arnhem. The advance was conducted gallantry under most difficult and trying under continuous medium machine-gun fire circumstances. His courage,- leadership and which, at one period, became so heavy that devotion to duty were magnificent, and an the Company became split up /on either inspiration to all. This officer is officially side of the road and suffered considerable reported to be wounded and missing. losses. Captain Queripel at once proceeded to reorganize his force, crossing and re- crossing the xoad whilst doing so, under CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF extremely heavy and accurate fire. During KNIGHTHOOD. this period he carried a wounded Sergeant St. James's Palace, S.W.i, to the Regimental Aid Post under fire and ist February, 1945. The KING has been graciously pleased to give was himself wounded in the face. orders for the following appointments to the Most Having reorganized his force, Captain Honourable Order of the Bath, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Queripel personally led a party of men Europe: — against the strong point holding up the advance. This strong point consisted of a To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said captured British anti-tank gun and two Most Honourable Order: — machine-guns. Despite the extremely heavy Brigadier (temporary) Geoffrey Paul Hardy-Roberts, fire directed at him, Captain Queripel C.B.JE. (36763), gth Queen's Royal Lancers, Royal succeeded in killing the crews of the machine- Armoured Corps (Res. of Ofi.). guns and recapturing the anti-tank gun. As Major-General (acting) Lewis Owen Lyne, D.S.O. (22301), late The Lancashire Fusiliers. a result of this, the advance was able to Major-General (temporary) Gordon Holmes Alexander continue. (MacMillan, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. (5880), late The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Later in the same day, Captain Queripel Louise's). found himself cut off with a small party of Major-General (temporary) George Philip Bradley men and took up a position in a ditch. By Roberts, D.S.O., M.C. {34890), late Royal Tank this time he had received further wounds in Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Major-General (temporary) Robert Knox Ross, both arms. Regardless of his wounds and of D.S.O., M.C. (5517), late The Queen's Royal Regi- the very heavy mortar and spandau fire, he ment (West Surrey)..