Lieutenant (temp. Capt.) W.B.E. Petersen M.C.

OPERATIONS IN BURMA - MARCH 1943

On 6 March 43, Captain Petersen was in command of two British infantry platoons which were returning from an independent mission. On the way towards their column they met a detachment of a Gurkha column which was about to attack a village. Although Captain Petersen's men had been without food for three days and were extremely weary, he immediately placed himself and his detachment under the command of Major Calvert, the Gurkha Column Commander, who allotted him a role in the attack. In the course of the fighting, having surprised the enemy on his front, he captured his objective and beat off the subsequent counter-attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and destroying valuable motor transport, without loss to himself. The vigour and dash displayed by his tired and hungry troops in this spirited action was largely due to Captain Petersen's own example. Subsequently, marching to rejoin his own column, he met and attacked an enemy patrol and again inflicted casualties.

On 24 March at BAW, this officer again played a leading part in the protection of a vital area against enemy attack, although seriously wounded in the head. The devotion and affection which he had inspired in all ranks was demonstrated by the attention with which they now cared for him. Unable to sit on his horse without help, he was supported in the saddle by relays of men for a march of several hundred miles, until he was sufficiently recovered once more to walk and fight, and ultimately to reach CHINA.