Lance-Corporal William Wedgewood M.M.

During the advance of the Brigade from WAJIT to LOHINGE. Lance-Corporal WEDGEWOOD, then a Fusilier, was in the leading Section of the Advanced Guard. The march took place in wet weather over 1000 ft hills, thickly jungle covered, divided by precipitous valleys, the slopes slippery and the bottom deep and muddy. The Japanese were opposing the advance by a series of Platoon posts sited on the summit of the hills along the track which was the route of the Brigade. Fusilier WEDGEWOOD was the Bren Gunner. On encountering fire his Section deployed off the track and worked their way slowly and with great difficulty uphill in dense jungle drawing attention to themselves by firing in the direction of the enemy in order to facilitate the advance of the remainder of the Platoon on the other side of the track. Apparently losing patience with their slow advance Fusilier WEDGEWOOD without orders, returned to the track and ran up its very steep slippery slope firing his Bren gun from the hip and reaching a a position under cover from which he was able to bring effective fire onto the enemy. He remained firing from his isolated position where he was quickly joined by the rest of the Platoon who were able to advance under the covering fire he provided. After further fighting the position was taken. Fusilier WEDGEWOOD, by his courage and action greatly speeded the capture of the position, which proved itself of great value later in the day, when through difficulty of terrain, physical tiredness and enemy action the head of the battalion just made its objective at 2100 hours.

Dated 16 July 44 SHADUZUP