| Citation: Sicily. Citation for the OBE: As A.P.M., 13 Corps, Lt.Col FITZGERALD was responsible during the planning period for the provost arrangements on the Corps front and for putting them into execution when the invasion took place. The planning was carried out by him with great efficiency and foresight and to such good effect that traffic control in SICILY was established from the outset on a thoroughly satisfactory basis. Had this not been the case the success of the operations would have been seriously prejudiced. Lt.Col FITZGERLAND was confronted with a difficult task: to maintain a continuous flow of traffic along roads which were narrow and mountainous, often congested with refugees and obstructed at many points by enemy demolitions. It was mainly due to his personality, leadership and drive that the Corps Provost Company kept the traffic in motion, working long hours under arduous conditions. This outstanding work by Lt.Col FITZGERALD in SICILY is not an isolated example of the service which he has rendered. Over a period of thirteen months covering operations in the Western Desert and Cyrenaica this officer has maintained the Corps Provost Company at a high level of efficiency and discipline, and has instilled into all ranks his own qualities of energy, courtesy and good humour. Lt. Col FITZGERALD has carried out his duties with exceptional ability and has made a contribution of undoubted value to the successful outcome of the recent operations.
Brig C P H Roberts DA & QMG 13 Corps. Lieut Gen M C Dempsey Commander 13 Corps. National Archive WO 373/71 Pt.2. |
