Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Italian theatre M.M. for the crossings of the Reno, Senio and Po Rivers, awarded to Sapper John Munro, 22 Mechanical Equipment Platoon, Royal Engineers

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2149371 Spr. J. Munro, R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, edge bruise to the first, otherwise good very fine (5)

M.M. London Gazette 13 December 1945. The official recommendation states: ‘On the night of 2/3 April Spr Munro operating a D6 bulldozer in support of the Commando Brigade while under fire cut down ramps in the banks of the river Reno for Fantail crossings. Later he cut approaches to the Reno for a Bailey Pontoon Bridge. He was then ferried across the river and proceeded up the Spit, where he prepared approaches for two more Baileys under spasmodic shell-fire.

On the 6 and 7 April he was with 56 Div for the Reno crossing on to the spit of land called the Wedge. While being ferried up stream with his tractor, his raft came under accurate spandau and rocket fire from very close range and was sunk. Spr Munro just managed to reach the river bank. Nevertheless, next day he volunteered to man an armoured D6 bulldozer for the Senio crossing with 8 Ind Div. On the 10th and night 10/11 April he operated the armd dozer filling craters and on crossings between the Senio and Santerno, frequently during the period, working under shell and mortar fire.

On the 12th April he went to 78 Div and worked from Argenta to Portomaggiore under shell-fire and harassed by snipers. At Quartiere he cut a diversion in the face of mortar and machine gun fire. He then went forward to Ferrara with 21 Tank Bde. From Ferrara he was transferred to 8 Ind Div for the Po crossing and on the night 25/26 April, operating under fire he cut a ramp down to the water’s edge for Fantail crossings. On completion of the job he remained on the site, despite harassing fire, to haul Fantails up the bank should they get stuck. Throughout the course of the month’s operations Spr Munro has shown a cold unremitting courage and the greatest willingness at all times to carry out any job allotted to him without any thought for his own personal safety.’