George Pinkney

On 15 May 1940, the German Army attacked the 2nd Battalion DLI across the River Dyle, east of Brussels. "B" Company was pushed back and the Commanding Officer ordered "C" Company to counter attack. One platoon was destroyed. The other led by Platoon Sergeant Major Pinkney, an old soldier who had enlisted in 1920, forced the Germans back across the river.

On 27 May at Saint Venant, 2 DLI was overwhelmed by German armour. Sergeant Pinkney was last seen attacking the tanks with a box of grenades. He survived but spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.

For his "example and courage", George Pinkney was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal - one of the first awarded during the Second World War.

It was during the same battle on the River Dyle that Richard Annand won the first Army Victoria Cross of the Second World War.