Name Douglas Emery | ||
Sergeant Douglas Elias George Emery DCM BEM (1919–2008) was an acting platoon commander in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment which took and held the heavily defended crest of Monte Cece, Italy in October 1944.
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Early life
Douglas Emery was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex on 4 January 1919. He was called up in 1939 and joined the Essex Regiment where as a Lance Sergeant, he was engaged in peacekeeping duties in Palestine until January 1944. Emery was transferred to ‘A’ Company of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment and was promoted to full Sergeant. He then took part in the Anzio landings where he was wounded when an ammunition dump took a direct hit from a shell.
Assault on Monte Cece
On 6 October 1944 the 1st Battalion of the DWR were ordered to assault the strategically important peak of Monte Cece as it was blocking any further advance along ‘Arrow’ route through the Apennine Mountain range. The Germans were well dug in and despite attacks by the Sherwood Foresters and the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry were still firmly entrenched there. Due to many days of heavy rain the conditions were appalling; even the pack mules used to transport the men and equipment struggled in the knee-deep mud. That night the first attack was met with heavy machine gun and mortar fire and ‘B’ Company was forced to withdraw under a heavy smoke barrage. ‘A’ Company had thought they had reached the ridge, but as dawn broke they found that the crest was still some distance above them. The next day was spent carrying out reconnaissance, and a plan of attack for the next day (8 October) was formed. ‘C’ Company was to lead the assault with ‘A’ Company in close support. ‘B’ Company was to be kept in reserve and hold the position that ‘A’ Company took on the 6th. At 15:30 on the afternoon of 8 October ‘C’ Company began their advance through mud so deep that the men were reduced to crawling in places. After furious hand-to-hand fighting, ‘C’ Company took the left side of the summit. But they came under heavy fire from a number of machine guns from a position 100 yards to the right, which resulted in the death of the CO, Lt Col Sheil. Captain Arthur Burns immediately assumed command and ordered two platoons of ‘A’ Company to attack their position. The lead platoon’s advance stopped after taking casualties. But Sergeant Emery with Private Richard Burton, who was firing a discarded Bren Gun from his hip, led the platoon from the front on a decisive charge which succeeded in securing the objective. The enemy immediately counter-attacked, and Sgt Emery took up a position in front of his men and directed their fire with such effect that the attack was quickly repulsed after the enemy had taken heavy casualties, many of whom had fallen to Emery’s own Tommy Gun. That night the Germans counter-attacked again, but the men of the DWR held the position.
DCM award
After Monte Cece, the 1st Battalion of the DWR was posted to Palestine. It was there that Sgt. Emery learned that he had been awarded the DCM. In a letter to the Iron Duke (the Regimental Magazine), he wrote: "When we were resting in Palestine, Dick Burton, my platoon runner and good friend [and I], were told to report to Battalion HQ. The Commanding Officer informed us that Dick Burton had been awarded the Victoria Cross and I the Distinguished Conduct Medal. As it was in the London Gazette as an Immediate Award, we were given the appropriate ribbon to wear. I felt very proud to be able to write home to [tell] my wife that we would be going to an investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive the medal from King George VI." His citation reads: "Throughout the whole action which lasted until the early morning of 9th October, Sgt. Emery displayed not only the highest qualities of leadership and devotion to duty, but also showed an utter disregard for his own safety during a time of extreme danger. When not engaged actively in attacking and directing fire onto the enemy, Sgt. Emery was a constant source of encouragement and cheerfulness to his men, moving amongst them and directing the evacuation of the wounded. There is no doubt that it was in a very large part due to Sgt. Emery's conspicuous bravery that the assault on Monte Cece was a success." Private Richard Burton was awarded the Victoria Cross, Captain Arthur Burns was awarded the DSO and three other men were awarded the Military Medal. Monte Cece is commemorated as a Battle Honour on the Regimental Colours.
Post war
Sgt. Emery turned down a commission and left the army in February 1946. He then had a long and distinguished career with HM Customs and Excise until he retired in 1984. In the same year he was awarded the British Empire Medal for "... recognition of your loyal dedicated service to the dept, in the course of which your reliability and willingness to work beyond the call of duty have earned you the respect of all your colleagues." As stated by Sir Douglas Lovelock KCB, Chairman of H M Customs and Excise in his letter of congratulations. Douglas died in March 2008, he was survived by his wife, son and daughter.