A good North-West Europe Rhine Crossing Military Cross and Mention in Despatches group awarded to Major P.J.M. Green, 173rd Company, Pioneer Corps who saw service in North West Europe, landing on D-Day and subsequently taking part in the Rhine Crossing where his company were engaged on the construction of ‘Waterloo’ Bridge, the first bridge across the river in the 30 Corps sector, and was built under mortar fire having previously been moved from its initial site near Rees due to mortar and Spandau fire from the town. Green stayed at the bridge for over 48 hours and did not leave until it was open and his Company withdrawn enabling the vital work to be completed rapidly.
Group of 5: Military Cross, GRI, the reverse dated 1945, and privately engraved ‘MAJOR P.J.M. GREEN.’; 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal and War Medal with Mention in Despatches oak leaf emblem. Loose-mounted for wear.
Condition: loose-mounted for wear, Good Very Fine
Percy John Montague Green saw service as a War Substantive Captain, Temporary Major with the 173rd Company, Pioneer Corps during the Second World War, and would see service in North-West Europe and was awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 24th January 1946, the recommendation stating:
‘Major P.J,M. Green commanded a Beach Group Pioneer Coy and landed in Normandy on D-Day. During the assault crossing of the Rhine on 24th March 1945 his company were engaged on the construction of ‘Waterloo’ Bridge. Repeated attempts were made to get the bridge across opposite Rees, Germany, but had to be abandoned owing to Mortar and Spandau fire from Ress. The bridge was eventually thrown across down stream and in spite of Mortar fire was the first open for traffic at 0130hrs on 26th March 1945.
Major Green stayed at the bridge for over 48 hours and did not leave until it was open and his Company withdrawn. His presence and example encouraged and steadied his men in very difficult circumstances, and enabled the work to be completed rapidly at a very vital time’
‘Waterloo’ Bridge was the first bridge completed after the successful Rhine crossing enabling Allied troops and vehicles to cross to the east bank and make their way into the rest of Germany. Along with the Soviet offensive on Berlin, the Rhine Crossing was instrumental in ending the war just six weeks later.
