DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL

2613912 Sergeant Peter Thomas ROBINSON

Grenadier Guards

Sergeant Robinson was in command of a troop of No1 Squadron, 2nd Armd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, which at about 1600 hours on Wednesday 20th September 1944 was ordered to assault and cross the bridge at Nijmegen. The bridge is approximately 700 yards long and has an embankment of equal length on the far side which makes it impossible for tracked vehicles to get off the road even when across. The bridge was known to be prepared for demolition and, as the far side was in the hands of the Germans, it could be blown at any time.

Sergeant Robinson started to lead his troop across the bridge and had just reached it when ant-tank guns opened up from the far bank. Showing great coolness, he quickly withdrew his troop to Hull Down positions and engaged the enemy. At this stage it was reported to him that it was thought that the road across the bridge was mined. As the light was failing, he was ordered to make a dash across the bridge at all costs with his Troop Sergeant leading. This was successfully done under heavy fire from 88 mm anti-tank guns and firing from the other bank and from a self-propelled gun firing down the bridge. Enemy small arms fire from the bridge itself in the girders of the bridge, as well as bazooka fire directed at the Commander, made this extremely hazardous.

On reaching the far side of the bridge Sergeant Robinson took the lead on his own initiative and knocked out the self-propelled gun which was firing down the road. He then continued down the road for 1500 yards under very heavy anti-tank and bazooka fire until contact was made with the American Troops. This Sergeant showed outstanding bravery and initiative in crossing such a formidable obstacle against such defence and there is no doubt that but for his courageous action the bridge might not have been captured intact.

London Gazette 1st April 1945