| Citation: | Burma. Citation for MC: FOR CONSPICUOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY . Maj LAXTON has been APM of 20 Indian Div since April 1942 when the division was raised, and has done a first class job of work throughout, during the preliminary organisation period, during the training period in CEYLON and since October 1943 in the operational area in ASSAM and BURMA. For the last six months he has most successfully organised the traffic control and provost duties on a very long stretch of road from PALEL to TAMU and beyond, and when the Japanese advanced in March 1944, the smooth and effective evacuation of a very great number of engineer and pioneer personnel and of a mass of stores and equipment was made possible by his untiring devotion to duty, ceaseless energy, and personal initiative. In the latter stages of the withdrawal from MOOREH and other areas on the TAMU - PALEL road, the road was frequently shelled, mortared and sniped by parties of enemy infiltrating on the sides of the roads. Completely regardless of his own safety at all times he was always where he was most wanted, marshalling vehicles, clearing blocks of traffic, inspecting his many and scattered control posts, and encouraging the men at them, until on the 31st March 1944 he was wounded by a shell which pitched on the road near him while he was marshalling vehicles. Though suffering from several severe wounds, he organised the evacuation of others wounded in the area by the same shelling, and did not go to hospital until his work for the day was completed. His devotion to duty throughout the period from April 1942 to March 1944 has been deserving of the highest praise and has contributed largely to the smoothness and security with which the many moves of the Division during this period have been carried out.Lieut-Gen Slim GOC in C 14 Army. Gen C in C 11 Army Group. Maj Gen Comd 20 Indian Div. Lieut-Gen Comd IV Corps. National Archive WO 373/35. |
