Telegraph News Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Masters:
Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Masters, who has died aged 92, won the MC in Belgium in 1940 and a Bar in Italy three years later.
As a major in command of 54th Field Battery in September 1943 Masters led his unit ashore at Salerno in support of 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Achieving surprise, the battalion captured the town of Battipaglia and advanced beyond during the night. But at first light the Germans counter-attacked with infantry and armour, and the observation post officer with the two forward companies, who remained at his post to cover the withdrawal, was killed.
Although the enemy was on three sides Masters organised two observation posts in the town, and brought down heavy artillery fire on the enemy positions. In their efforts to provide effective support, he and his comrades were eventually surrounded. But when the Germans took the town Masters, who was wounded in the arm, escaped down a side road with the remnants of Battalion HQ, and did all that he could to protect them as they came under a hail of fire which knocked out his scout car. The citation for the Bar to his MC praised his inspirational leadership, courage and dogged determination.
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