A Second World War Italian front MM group to BMBR Ainsworth RA

G.V.R.I. Military Medal, correctly impressed 1481431 L. BMBR. W. H. Ainsworth. R.A.

1939/45 Star

Italy Star

Defence Medal

War Medal

Condition VF (official correction to rank on MM)

William Henry Ainsworth was a native of York, during the Second World War he served with the 26^th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery. He was a prewar regular having enlisted in 1938.

While serving in Italy he was awarded the Military Medal, announced in the London gazette on the 6^th of April 1944. The citation is as follows;

‘On the evening of 25 Nov 43 L/Bdr Ainsworth was in charge of a 15-cwt truck driven from Pollutri to Paglieta. The vehicle became involved in a long convoy and as it came along the road parallel and near to the river Sangro the convoy halted immediately came under enemy shellfire. During this shellfire an amn vehicle in front received a direct hit and burst into flames. The reaming vehicles were in very close fmn and fire quickly spread to another 15-cwt truck and to a GTV towing gun. The amn which had been hit was exploding. L/Bdr Ainsworth realizing that the remainder of the convoy was in danger and without waiting for orders reversed his own vehicle away and proceeded to remove a number of vehicles, although not of his own unit, from the scene of the fire. Between his own vehicle and the fire there were approximately twelve vehicles.

 All of these Ainsworth and one other gunner moved to a safe area while the road was being heavily shelled. The divers of the vehicles nearest  the fire Ainsworth had to crawl along the ground to reach the cab owing to the intense heat. Ainsworth, also, in spite of heavy shellfire and exploding ammunition attempted to help two men who were lying between two of the blazing vehicles. He was eventually prevented from doing this by the intense heat and exploding ammunition.

During the whole period Ainsworth, with complete disregard to the heavy shelling  displayed great courage, initiative and by his action saved a valuable convoy.’

Ainsworth survived the war and was discharged in 1946