Award of the Military Cross
to
Lieutenant Kenneth Wade Foott, 3rd May, 1945.

Citation
   On 13 April 1945 Lieutenant Foott was commanding 4 Troop B Squadron in one of the Gruppo Cremona’s crossing of the Santerno. Both flood banks were known to be strongly held. The first assault at 0800 hrs along Route 16 failed. Another Italian battalion was brought up and supported by Lieutenant Foott’s troop was ordered to assault the railway crossing while waiting for this battalion to arrive. Lieutenant Foott, unsupported, advanced through very thick country to within 100 yard of the near bank, located the enemy positions and knocked out two spandau posts at point blank range. He walked back and guided the infantry to a proper start line, re-mounted and led the attack. The fire from his troop was so well directed that the infantry had little difficulty in seizing the near bank. The enemy brought down a very heavy mortar concentration. In spite of this and constant short ranged small-arms fire from further along our bank and the far bank, Lieut. Foott made two further dismounted recces and succeeded in getting his tank on top of the bank to shoot up the far bank.
   Lieutenant Foott now appreciated that it was now possible to cross the 100 -yard wide riverbank and take the far bank but by this time all the Italian officers except one 2nd/Lieutenant had become casualties so he went on foot along the line and in spite of being unable to speak a word of Italian, succeeded by example, in encouraging the Italians for a further assault. This he led himself dismounted. They crossed the river and captured the far bank with great dash and courage, but had it NOT been for Lieutenant Foott’s gallant action they would NOT have gone. Lieutenant Foott’s courage and leadership maintained the very highest traditions of the British officer and was an inspiration to these foreign troops.

Transcribed from a copy of Army Form making the recommendation.

Recommended by
Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. A. Llewellen-Palmer D.S.O., M.C., Commanding Officer North Irish Horse.

Endorsed by
Brigadier D. Dawnay, Commander 21st Tank Brigade.

Approved by
Lieutenant-General R. L. McCreery, General Officer Commanding 8th Army.

London Gazette Record
Issue: 37162 Date: 5.7.1945 Page: 3494 WO Folio 373/13.
which view.

Lieutenant Foott was also Mentioned in Despatches
Gazetted 5th July, 1945
Issue: 37162 Page: 3494

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