Friday, July 22, 2022

July 22, 1942. Terror in Warsaw, Gas Rationing on the East Coast, Heroisam at El Alamein

Germany began to move residents of the Warsaw Ghetto to Treblinka in what was termed Grossaktion Warsaw.

Today In Wyoming's History: July 221942 US initiates gasoline rationing 



This actually took place only along the Atlantic seaboard at first.  It was actually a measure taken to save rubber, rather than gasoline.

The Germans reached the great bend of the Don, near Stalingrad.

It was a very active day of combat at El Alamein.  Among the Australians, was Private Stan Gurney, who was killed there in an action that resulted in a posthumous Victoria's Cross. The citation stated:

No.WX.9858 Private Arthur Stanley Gurney, Australian Military Forces. For gallant and unselfish bravery in silencing enemy machine-gun posts by bayonet assault at Tell El Eisa on 22 July 1942, thus allowing his Company to continue the advance.

During an attack on strong German positions in the early morning of 22 July 1942, the Company to which Private Gurney belonged was held up by intense machine-gun fire from posts less than 100 yards ahead, heavy casualties being inflicted on our troops, all the officers being killed or wounded.

Grasping the seriousness of the situation and without hesitation, Private Gurney charged the nearest enemy machine-gun post, bayoneted three men and silenced the post. He then continued on to a second post, bayoneted two men and sent out a third as a prisoner. At his stage a stick grenade was thrown at Private Gurney which knocked him to the ground. He rose again, picked up his rifle and charged a third post using the bayonet with great vigour. He then disappeared from view, and later his body was found in an enemy post.

By this single-handed act of gallantry in the face of a determined enemy, Private Gurney enabled his Company to press forward to its objective, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. The successful outcome of this engagement was almost entirely due to Private Gurney's heroism at the moment when it was needed.

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