Lieutenant John Badger
Unit : "C" Company, 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment
Army No. : 267242
Awards : Military Cross
John Badger was awarded the Military Cross for his endeavours in Sicily:
This officer was wounded during the early part of the fighting. Nevertheless, he continued to lead his platoon in two attacks on Waterloo Bridge. When eventually the Bridge was re-captured Lieutenant Badger assisted in its defence under heavy fire and refused treatment for his wound until ordered back by his Commanding Officer. His cool courage and dauntless leadership contributed largely to the recapture of Waterloo Bridge.
At the Battle of Arnhem, 17th September 1944, Lieutenant Badger commanded No.18 Platoon of "C" Company. Two days later, having been called upon several times to deal with snipers and machine-gun posts on the way to Arnhem, the Platoon was ordered to make a bayonet charge against the enemy positions on the Den Brink high ground just outside of the town, to enable the remainder of the Company to occupy it. Their attack was a success, but the vulnerability of this wooded position soon became apparent when the men tried to dig themselves into the hard and unyielding ground. The Germans quickly mortared Den Brink, one shell hit a branch and, thus deflected, struck Lieutenant Badger in the chest, killing him instantly and wounding his batman, Private Jones.