VI COMMANDO

Lance-Sergeant. Cyril Dobbs, formerly of the South Staffordshire Regiment was one of the Sub-section leaders of No.2 Troop of No.6 Commando  from at least 5^th June 1944 until, at least, the end of the war.

As Acting-Sergeant, he was awarded the Military Medal for actions near Well (Netherlands), the citation reads:

‘On the night of the 24^th/ 25^th February 1945 at Well, Sgt. Dobbs was a member of a fighting patrol sent out to cross the River Maas and bring back a prisoner.  Having crossed the river the assault party was advancing towards an enemy post when heavy accurate fire was opened from three duifferent positions, pinning them to the ground.  Sgt. Dobbs, who was in command of the covering party acted immediately.  Exposing himself without hesitation to heavy machine-gun fire he brought his party across the open ground at speed, and opened fire on the nearest enemy post.  His fire was so effective that the machine-gun was knocked out, and he was able to dash in and take prisoner the two soldiers manning the gun.  He then engaged the other enemy posts with fire from an exposed position, thus drawing all enemy fire onto himself and allowing the assault party to withdraw.  Meanwhile an enemy NCO came running up to retrieve the situation, and Sgt. Dobbs shot him dead at close range.  He then withdrew his party to the river bank without suffering a single casualty.

From this successful patrol important enemy identifications were obtained.  Its success was in great part due to the tremendous dash and initiative displayed by Sgt. Dobbs.’

Picture courtesy of David Blackburn