244701 Cpl. Charles Stanley Pickett DCM.British Army 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders (Queens Own) from:Enfield On Saturday 20th of June 1942, after the Battalion position had been cut off from the remainder of the Tobruk Garrison, the Battalion Commander ordered all companies to move up to the forward positions of the Battalion. My father, Corporal Stan Pickett of the A/T platoon was ordered to sight his gun in the area of 'B' company's H.Q. position. On the morning of 21st of June 1942, the Battalion sector was heavily attacked from both front and rear. At about 10 am seven enemy tanks were observed forming up on El Adem road facing 'B' company's positions. My father was ordered to attack to engage these tanks with his 2 pounder A/T gun, he held his fire until the tanks were well within effective range, then with great coolness and deliberation he ordered the gun team to open fire and maintained complete control of his team, as a result of which each tank was successfully engaged and destroyed. He was captured on the day after this action, and was sent to Arezzo in Northern Italy. After the capitulation of Italy he was being moved to Germany and while marching from the camp escaped with a friend. Over five weeks he walked 500 miles back to the allied lines. When only 12 days from the allied lines he lost his friend in a mountain mist. He was awarded a DCM for his action in Tobruk. After repatriation he was sent to Palestine to work in the police force, remaining there until 1947.
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