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Lieutenant C.K. Rooke M.C. |
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Transcript of Military Cross Citation |
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Brigade |
77th Indian Infantry |
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Division |
3rd Indian |
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Unit |
Royal West Kent Regt. attd. 3/6 Gurkha Rifles |
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Date of Recommendation |
15 July 1944 |
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Regtl. No. |
180273 |
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Rank and Name |
Lieutenant Christopher Kershaw ROOKE |
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Action for which commended :- |
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Lieut. ROOKE, after the previous Brigade Orderly Officer was killed, became Brigade Orderly Officer. At HENU Block on 17 May 44 he was ordered to guide a Platoon to counterattack O.P. HILL where the Japanese had penetrated the wire and established themselves. He actually himself led the counterattack and reached the top first killing at least three Japanese. This counterattack was completely successful and drove the Japanese out of the perimeter. On the 4th June 44 Brigade Headquarters and the battalion of The Lancashire Fusiliers were marching to concentrate with the remainder of the Brigade for the attack on MOGAUNG. At a village which the Column were skirting the Japanese started attacking the centre of the Column, Lieut. ROOKE with one Gurkha Platoon was ordered to engage the enemy whilst the rest of the Column filed past. He did this very successfully killing twelve of the Japanese who numbered about thirty and put the rest to flight. He himself was wounded in the groin but carried on till success arrived. He later refused to be evacuated by Light Plane and tried to continue to carry on with his duties for some weeks until he was ordered out. Throughout the campaign he was eager to get into action and his cheerful courage, skill and determination to kill Japanese has been a source of great inspiration to the Brigade Defence Platoon which he led into action, and he instilled in them all, offensive spirit, which finally later made them the first troops to enter MOGAUNG. |
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Recommended By |
Brigadier J.M. Calvert DSO Commander 77 Indian Infantry Brigade |
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Honour or Reward |
Military Cross |
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Signed By |
Major General W.D.A. Lentaigne Comd. 3 Ind. Div. General G. Giffard Commander-in-Chief 11 Army Group |
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(London Gazette 26.04.1945) |
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