Anthony BRUCE Blake

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Anthony Bruce Blake, Major, Royal British Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 19 September 1944, during the battle of Arnhem, Belgium. Major Blake, although temporarily blinded by an enemy mortar shell, remained on duty at a telephone in a slit trench. His sight did not fully return until after evacuation, but until then he was constantly on duty throughout a period of intense mortar and artillery fire. He successfully directed the fire of a medium artillery regiment which was supporting his division from a corps area, such direction of fire was carried out quietly and effectively and contributed largely to the success of the regiment in breaking up enemy concentrations and attacks.