| Citation: | Gulf. Citation: Staff Sergeant Davies commanded 2 Platoon, 203 Provost Company which was under tactical command of HQ 7 Armoured Brigade for Operation Granby. His duties required him to move early through the obstacle breach in wheeled vehicles, alongside the armoured reconnaissance, in order to lay out the brigade rendezvous line on the far side of the breach, and establish the Forming Up Point (FUP) for the Brigade Administrative Area (BAA). Thereafter, he would be responsible for signing the axis of advance so that the BAA could follow hard up on the Brigade in order to provide logistic support.On 25 February1991, early Allied successses had advanced timings for the Brigade's passage of lines, and the forward elements were already some four hours ahead of the BAA by the time the FUP was reached. Best speed was therefore required if the BAA was to provide close logistic support to the Brigade and, in turn, receive protection on the battlefield.The FUP proved, on occupation, to be covered in Multi Launch Rocket System bomblets to the extent that the BAA group sustained three wounded and one killed within a short time of arriving in the area. Staff Sergeant Davies's platoon itself had already lost one Landrover and a motorcycle due to this hazard. With the onset of darkness and with rain and cloud making visibility almost nil, Staff Sergeant Davies was ordered by the Brigade Provost Officer to clear safe lanes, to allow the BAA to form up and pass through the FUP. The alternative was clearly the loss of critical logistic vehicles and possibly more lives. He, therefore personally led his soldiers in clearing the necessary routes of bomblets - in full knowledge of their potential lethality - using issue shovels.Despite an explosion early in the proceedings, which fortunately inflicted no injury, Staff Sergeant Davies continued to work against the clock to clear the way for the 600 plus vehicles of the BAA. In due course, the BAA was able to occupy its FUP and proceed up the line of advance with minimum delay. Staff Sergeant Davies continued to recce and lay the route for the BAA through the next 200 kilometres of enemy territory, throughout motivating an increasingly tired and stressed platoon through many battlefield hazards.Staff Sergeant Davies's act was one of exemplary personal courage and robust leadership. |
