Private (Acting Sergeant), 4th Battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Born: 6 May 1912, Congleton, Cheshire
Died: 11 September 1991, Congleton, Cheshire
Citation: In North-West Europe, on 16th October, 1944, during an attack on the wooded area East of Overloon [Holland], strong opposition was met from well sited defensive positions in orchards. The enemy were paratroops and well equipped with machine guns.A platoon of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry was ordered to clear these orchards and so restore the momentum of the advance, but was halted some 80 yards from its objective by automatic fire from enemy machine gun posts. This fire was so heavy that it appeared impossible for any man to expose himself and remain unscathed.
Notwithstanding this, Sergeant Eardley, who had spotted one machine gun post, moved forward, firing his Sten gun, and killed the occupants of the post with a grenade. A second machine gun post beyond the first immediately opened up, spraying the area with fire. Sergeant Eardley, who was in a most exposed position, at once charged over 30 yards of open ground and silenced both the enemy gunners.
The attack was continued by the Platoon but was again held up by a third machine gun post, and a section sent in to dispose of it, was beaten back, losing four casualties. Sergeant Eardley, ordering the section he was with to lie down, then crawled forward alone and silenced the occupants of the post with a grenade.
The destruction of these three machine gun posts singlehanded by Sergeant Eardley, carried out under fire so heavy that it daunted those who were with him, enabled his Platoon to achieve its objective, and in so doing, ensured the success of the whole attack.
His outstanding initiative and magnificent bravery were the admiration of all who saw his gallant actions.
(London Gazette Issue 36870 dated 2 Jan 1945, published 29 Dec 1944.)
2 comments:
MY NAME = ROY HAROLD EARDLEY (son)
this picture shows MY DAD's MEDAL COLLECTION wrongly including THE ITALY STAR.:: He never served in Italy there-fore No 'Italy Star'. Should be displayed. Check my email address I wrote 4 books about him and worked many years to have a Bronze Life Size Statue built in his home town = Congleton: royheardley@uwclub.net (Prestatyn)
I served with Sgt. Eardley as an A/Sgt. at Arborfield Army Apprentice School, Arborfield . in 1948-9.
Sgt. Eardley was a fine man who never spoke or boasted of his award for bravery although I questioned him on numerous occasions and pressed him to tell me of his exploit and his feelings at the time . He was cheerful at all times and much to be admired.
Cliff Charlesworth. (Now 80yrs. old.)
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