(For the operations in the Low Countries and France)
Plate 27 is a newspaper cutting from the Gravesend and Dartford Reporter listing the honours and awards. As the local paper, it was natural that they should show great pride in the exploits of their local Territorial Unit. Not mentioned on this list was the MC awarded to Second Lieutenant B.J Ashwell for his exploits at St Malo as he was not a local man.
What is of interest is that my father recommended Keeble, Goodwin and Buxton for MCs and these were approved by the Director of Military Operations. This fact is in the National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office). Churchill, who had only just become Prime Minister, had, up to May 1940, been First Lord of the Admiralty and during that time had become very concerned about the oil stocks in the Low Countries falling into enemy hands. It is understood that when he was informed of these successful operations he was greatly relieved. He sent for a report and having read it, put a pen through Keeble, Goodwin and Buxton’s citations and deleted MC and wrote DSO across them. It must be appreciated that these junior officers not only showed great leadership but in all cases they had the heavy responsibility of carrying out their instructions despite opposition in many cases from very reluctant and difficult senior Allied commanders.