| Citation: | Italy. Citation for BEM: During the early part of May, prior to the launching of the Cassino offensive 105 Provost Company was responsible for bringing the armour to the forward Army boundary. This was done on tracks by night. Sjt Burg was responsible for the greater part of this work, and to the outstanding manner in which he carried out his duties of track lighting and escorting over rough country without regard to personal fatigue and discomfort over long periods, the smooth and efficient way in which the armour was fed forward could largely be attributed. On 4 Aug 44, when British troops entered Florence, Sjt Burge took his section into the city. He was the senior NCO of a police detachment which went in in the early hours of occupation. During the first ten days, when the city was not completely in Allied hands, Sjt Burge showed great coolness and efficiency during a most trying period. The area was under shell and mortar fire and there were many cases of civilian disturbances and sniping. The excellent example set to his men, his efficiency and devotion to duty, enabled his detachment to do invaluable work in establishing and maintaining order, keeping up civilian morale, controlling and preventing civilian and refugee movements. At this time our line in the city was lightly held at the river; had any of these factors assumed undue proportions, military operations in and around the city might have been severley hampered. Sjt Burge has had charge of a section of this Company throughout the Desert, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. His example to his men, and devotion to duty, have at all times been outstanding. He has been twice mentioned in despatches. Lt Col J R Archer-Burton DPM 8 Army. Brig DAQMG 8 Army. National Archive WO 373/72. |
