Ian Oswald Liddell
Captain, 5th Battalion. Coldstream Guards
- Register No.
- 743 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain (register: Temp. Captain) all Captains →
- Unit
- 5th Battalion. Coldstream Guards all Coldstream Guards VCs →
- Date of action
- 3 April 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 7th June 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 19th October 1919 at Shanghai, China
- Died
- 21st April 1945. near Rothernburg, Germany (of wounds.)
- Memorial / grave
- in Becklingen Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Saltau, Germany there are also memorials in Maunton Church, Chepstow and St Thomas's Church, Shirenewton Monmouthshire and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London
- Medal held by
- the Guards Regimental HQ
Digest of citation
On the 3rd April 1945, in Germany, Captain Liddle was commanding a company of the Coldstream Guards whose objective was to, capture intact, the bridge over the River Ems.near Lingen. On the far bank of the river the enemy had a strong point, manned by 150 infantry men and five guns, three of 88 mm calibre and two of 20 mm, all of which covered the bridge. The bridge had been prepared for demolition using two 500lbs bombs which were clearly visible. Captain Liddell ran forward alone, scaling the 10 ft-high roadblock, his intention being the neutralising of the charges. He crossed the whole length of the bridge under extremely heavy fire, which became more intense as the Germans realised what his objective was. After disconnecting the charges on the far side he re-crossed the bridge, cutting the wires on the near side. All of the time he created a very easy target as he consecutively cut the wires. He then saw that there were also charges underneath the bridge and without further thought, for his own safety, went on to disconnect these. His objective completed, he climbed up onto the road block and signalled his platoon to advance
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LIDDELL, Ian Oswald. (reg No. 743).
Captain. 5th Battalion. Coldstream Guards.
London Gazetted on 7th June 1945.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Guards Regimental HQ.
Born on 19th October 1919 at Shanghai, China.
Died on 21st April 1945. near Rothernburg, Germany (of wounds.)
Memorial on grave in Becklingen Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Saltau, Germany there are also memorials in Maunton Church, Chepstow and St Thomas's Church, Shirenewton Monmouthshire and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 3rd April 1945, in Germany, Captain Liddle was commanding a company of the Coldstream Guards whose objective was to, capture intact, the bridge over the River Ems.near Lingen. On the far bank of the river the enemy had a strong point, manned by 150 infantry men and five guns, three of 88 mm calibre and two of 20 mm, all of which covered the bridge. The bridge had been prepared for demolition using two 500lbs bombs which were clearly visible. Captain Liddell ran forward alone, scaling the 10 ft-high roadblock, his intention being the neutralising of the charges. He crossed the whole length of the bridge under extremely heavy fire, which became more intense as the Germans realised what his objective was. After disconnecting the charges on the far side he re-crossed the bridge, cutting the wires on the near side. All of the time he created a very easy target as he consecutively cut the wires. He then saw that there were also charges underneath the bridge and without further thought, for his own safety, went on to disconnect these. His objective completed, he climbed up onto the road block and signalled his platoon to advance.
Additional information:. Captain Liddell, in a later action, was mortally wounded.
Additional information
Captain Liddell, in a later action, was mortally wounded.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: in Becklingen Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, Saltau, Germany there are also memorials in Maunton Church, Chepstow and St Thomas's Church, Shirenewton Monmouthshire and in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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