Charles FRED OSBORNE Breeze

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Charles Fred Osborne Breese, Major, Royal British Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 22 and 23 September 1944, during the battle of Arnhem, Belgium. Major Breeze, with a scratch force of one platoon of the Border Regiment, forty parachutists and thirty-five other soldiers, went to the southern flank of a brigade sector with orders to stabilize the position and to be prepared to counter-attack the enemy. Upon reaching the area, the small force was subjected to intense enemy mortar and artillery fire which caused heavy casualties. The situation was critical, but Major Breeze immediately asserted his authority, and by his own personal bearing and gallantry soothed the remainder of the force and established control of the situation.