| Citation: | Italy. Citation for BEM: On the evening of 22 Jun 44 no. 30503 Sjt C V EDMONDSON was on patrol with a Provost Officer and an Interpreter, when they had occasion to check two soldiers in a Jeep at SAN FERDINANDO. Both soldiers abandoned the Jeep and ran away. A few minutes later both men were seen driving another Jeep towards TRINITAPOLI at a fast speed and Sjt EDMONDSON gave chase. The pursuit continued at a high speed until the leading vehicle crashed into a bridge, the occupants being thrown out. One man escaped, but the other an armed deserter, was arrested by Sjt EDMONDSON. Another Jeep driven by a deserter then arrived on the scene. This man was in possession of a loaded T. M. G. and a loaded Beretta pistol. Sjt EDMONDSON arrested and disarmed this man. Sjt EDMONDSON continued enquiries for a period of three weeks and was largely responsible for rounding up a complete gang of eight deserters who had been operating for six months in Eastern Italy, stealing and selling WD stores and equipment. As a result six vehicles, 410 drums of oil and miscellaneous WD property and approximately 800,000 lire were recovered. By Sjt EDMONDSON's disregard for his own safety during the incidents on the night 22/23 Jun 44, and the efficiency with which he conducted his investigations, the rounding up of a complete gang of dangerous criminals has been successfully effected.Lt Col DPM 3 District. Maj Gen Comd 3 District. National Archive WO 373/73. |
