Orders, Decorations and Medals

An immediate M.M. awarded to Lance Corporal Andrew McMinn, Scots Guards, for gallantry in a night attack on Penzola ridge in Italy

MILITARY MEDAL, G.VI.R. (2697263 L.Cpl. A.McMinn, S.Gds.), scratches to reverse otherwise very fine

M.M., London Gazette, 10th May, 1945: L/Cpl. A. McMinn, Scots Guards, attd. 2 Coldstream Guards, 6th Armoured Division. ‘On the night 4/5 Dec. 1944 L/Cpl. McMinn's Coy made an attack on PENZOLA ridge. This entailed a long and arduous march across steep muddy country. Sometime before the feature was reached the Coy suffered six casualties from heavy shelling. All, including two stretcher cases were successfully evacuated to the RAP a mile and half back, despite the continued fall of shells. This completed, L/Cpl. McMinn made his way to the objective which had now been captured. His direct route lay across a mine-field and over ground never previously covered by our troops. Although he knew this, L/Cpl. McMinn insisted upon proceeding and neither mortar bombs or mines prevented him from rejoining his Coy. When he reached the objective he found more casualties and once more tended them under heavy fire, this time from spandaus as well as guns. The evacuation route now lay down an almost perpendicular cliff, made slippery by rain. Nevertheless despite the fall of 50 ft. which met any false step and the mud which now hindered the stretcher bearers, all the casualties were evacuated successfully. Although he was then almost exhausted, he again returned to his Coy where his cheerfulness and energy was an example to all. On the night 5/6 L/Cpl. McMinn had to crawl out on to the forward slope of the position to tend a badly wounded man under intense spandau fire. He did this without hesitation and brought the wounded man back to safety. Throughout the whole arduous period, L/Cpl. McMinn's courage and tireless energy, combined with his cheerfulness to make him an outstanding example and encouragement to all his Coy.’