ITALY : EIGHTH ARMY FIRST ITALIAN CAMPAIGN - The first recipient of the Victoria Cross during the Italian Campaign - 35 year old Capt. Paul Triquet a French-Canadian, sits for Official War Artist, Capt. Henry Carr. Capt. Triquet was awarded the Empire's premier battle decoration during the action described below:- The capture of the key road junction on the main Ortona-Orsogna road was entirely dependent on securing the hamlet of Casa Berardi. Both this and a gully in front of it had been turned by the Germans into formidable strongpoints defended by Infantry and Tanks. On December 14th 1
ITALY : EIGHTH ARMY FIRST ITALIAN CAMPAIGN - The first recipient of the Victoria Cross during the Italian Campaign - 35 year old Capt. Paul Triquet a French-Canadian, sits for Official War Artist, Capt. Henry Carr. Capt. Triquet was awarded the Empire's premier battle decoration during the action described below:- The capture of the key road junction on the main Ortona-Orsogna road was entirely dependent on securing the hamlet of Casa Berardi. Both this and a gully in front of it had been turned by the Germans into formidable strongpoints defended by Infantry and Tanks. On December 14th 1943 - Capt. Triquet's company of the Royal 22nd Regiment, with the support of a squadron of a Canadian Armoured Regiment, was given the task of crossing the gully and securing Casa Berardi. All the company officers and 50% of the men were killed or wounded, but showing superb contempt for the enemy, Capt. Triquet went round reoganising the remainder and encouraging them with the words ; "Never mind them - they can't shoot". Finally, when enemy infiltration was observed on all sides, and shouting "There are enemy in front of us, behind us and on our flanks. There is only one safe place - that is our objective!" he dashed forward and with his men following, broke through the enemy resistance. In this action, four tanks were destroyed and several enemy machine gun posts silenced. Against the bitter resistance and under heavy fire, Captain Triquet and the remainder of his company, in close cooperation with the tanks, forced their way on until a position was reached on the outskirts of Casa Beradi. By this time the strength of the company was reduced to two Sergeants and 15 men. In expectation of a counter-attack, Capt. Triquet at once set about organising his handful of men into a defensive perimeter around the remaining tanks and passed the famous order issued at Verdun during the last war - "They shall not pass". A fierce counter-attack supported by tanks, developed almost immedi
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