236285 Gdsmn. Leslie Bennett MM.British Army 3rd Btn. Coldstream Guards from:Burnley On 25th of September 1943 Guardsman Leslie Bennett's company took part in an attack upon Point 270 north of Salerno. The attack entailed scaling a precipitous hillside in the face of intense machine gun and mortar fire. Guardsman Bennett was among the first of the section to reach the top and, as he did so, his nearby comrades fell from an enemy sniping machine gun that opened up nearby. His section were forced to take cover from this gun which was then joined by an enemy patrol. Guardsman Bennett, with complete disregard for his own safety and heedless of the enemy machine gun, left his cover and went forward completely alone and, under heavy machine gun fire, threw grenades at the approaching patrol forcing them to withdraw. Later in the action he was seriously hit by shrapnel in the back but, in spite of this and of the very considerable pain in which he was obviously suffering, he continued to man his Bren gun and only withdrew for treatment after asking permission of his Platoon Commander. Throughout the whole day's fighting Guardsman Bennett continuously set an example of courage, determination and cheerfulness of the highest order.
|