Lance-Corporal Robert Pearce
Unit : Motor Transport Section, Headquarters Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion
Army No. : 4617711
Awards : Distinguished Service Cross
During the Airborne operation at Arnhem, September 17th - 25th, 1944, this man displayed superb personal courage and powers of leadership. On the evening of September 18th the whole Brigade had become split up into isolated groups with no chain of command and the fighting was heavy and confused. Lance-Corporal Pearce collected sixteen men of the battalion and put himself and them under command of the rearguard 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. From then until the end of the action he led this party with high initiative and valour.
On September 23rd, when a heavy enemy attack was developing on his sector, he led forward a Bren Gun team and established himself in a forward position. Under heavy fire and with complete disregard for his own safety he kept his gun in action, pinning down the enemy, and inflicting heavy casualties. This action was instrumental in enabling the whole sector to be consolidated.