L/Cpl. Peter Seddon MM.
British Army 1st Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment
from:Leigh
Peter Seddon served in West Yorkshire Regiment, 48th Indian Infantry, 17th Indian Division.
Recommendation for Military Medal awarded to Lance Corporal Peter Seddon, dated 15th of May 1945.
During the period 15 Feb 45 to 15 May 45 L/Cpl Seddon has been the NCO i/c stretcher bearers attached to a company. In all the battles in which his company has taken part during this period L/Cpl Seddon has distinguished himself as a leader of considerable initiative and daring. He has organized the evacuation of casualties under extremely difficult circumstances in a manner beyond all praise.
During operations near Meiktila on 20 March his Coy was given the task of sweeping the village of Kinlu which had to be approached across about two hundred yards of open ground. The coy succeeded in getting a footing in the village but once inside began to suffer heavy casualties from enemy snipers using a large proportion of LMGs from well concealed positions all around and inside the village.
As is the custom of the Japanese, once they had hit a man they kept his body covered by fire in order to make the job of recovery a difficult one. In spite of this and acting with remarkable coolness and efficiency L/Cpl Seddon personally extricated four of the wounded men from exposed positions and carrying them back behind flimsy cover from view dressed their wounds and set about the task of evacuating them. This was not an easy one. The R.A.P. was nearly a mile away and the first two hundred yards of open ground was by now covered by fire from an enemy LMG and several riflemen snipers.
L/Cpl Seddon decided that he must go with the stretcher party himself to select the best route and ensure the arrival of the casualties at the R.A.P. Placing two of the casualties on to stretchers he and his three other men set off on their hazardous journey across the open. Although the enemy fire at his small party became intense, L/Cpl Seddon did not allow them to falter for one moment but led them on with their burdens at a steady pace until the safety of cover was reached and the enemys fire had died down.
Having reached the R.A.P. he at once returned to the Coy with more bearers where he was able to continue his heroic work of collecting and dressing the wounds of the casualties under intense and accurate fire for a further five hours of extremely trying battle.
On 25th of March 45 his Coy was in position giving covering fire for another Coy to enter and clear the village of Kyigon near Meiktila. Shortly after getting into position both Coys came under accurate shellfire which continued throughout the day. His own Coy suffered a number of casualties in one of its forward Platoons and, completely disregarding the shelling L/Cpl Seddon took his three stretcher bearers and fetched the casualties back to the Coy HQ area where, still under shellfire he expertly dressed their wounds and sent them back to the R.A.P.
He then learned that the other attacking Coy was suffering severe casualties from the shelling and that amongst these were three of that Coys stretcher bearers. Without hesitation he took his own men into the village and brought some of the wounded out where again he dressed their wounds in the open and under fire before they were evacuated. L/Cpl Seddon continued in this valiant manner through the entire battle which lasted for over six hours in the most stifling heat.
In all he tended to twenty-eight casualties and at the end of the day, although almost dropping from exhaustion he refused to be carried back to the Lines in a jeep but insisted on marching with the Coy in case more casualties were inflicted by shellfire.
The N.C.O.s outstanding bravery and loyalty in spite of all obstacles earned for him the highest respect of the Coy who would go into action in the knowledge that should they become wounded they would be in the best possible hands.
Recommendation signed by: Comd. 1st Bn. W.York.R. (P.W.O) H.H.Crofton Brigadier Comd 48 Ind Inf Bde. R.C.O. Hedley Maj-Gen. Comd. 17 Ind Div D.Tennant Cowan Lt. Gen Comd. 4th Corps Co F.W. Messervy and Gen. C-in-C Allied Land Forces, SEAC W.F.Silm.
From the National Archives: WO 373/42
W.F.Silm was better known as Sir General Bill Slim, the Head of the Burma Campaign!
