"In Holland on 19th September, 1944, Major Cain was commanding a rifle company of the South Staffordshire Regiment during the battle of Arnhem when his company was cut off from the rest of the battalion and during the next six days was closely engaged with enemy tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry. The Germans made repeated attempts to break into the company position by infiltration and had they succeeded in doing so the whole situation of the Airborne Troops would have been jeopardised. Major Cain, by his outstanding devotion to duty and remarkable powers of leadership, was to a large extent personally responsible for saving a vital sector from falling into the hands of the enemy. On 20th September a Tiger tank approached the area held by his company and Major Cain went out alone to deal with it armed with a Piat. Taking up a position he held his fire until the tank was only 20 yards away when he opened up. The tank immediately halted and turned its guns on him, shooting away a corner of the house near where this officer was lying. Although wounded by machine-gun bullets and falling masonry, Major Cain continued firing until he had scored several direct hits, immobilised the tank and supervised the bringing up of a 75 mm. howitzer which completely destroyed it. Only then would he consent to have his wounds dressed. The next morning this officer drove off three more tanks by the fearless use of his Piat, on each occasion leaving cover and taking up position in open ground with complete disregard for his personal safety. During the following days, Major Cain was everywhere where danger threatened, moving amongst his men and encouraging them by his fearless example to hold out. He refused rest and medical attention in spite of the fact that his hearing had been seriously impaired because of a perforated eardrum and he was suffering from multiple wounds. On the 25th September the enemy made a concerted attack on Major Cain’s position, using self-propelled guns, flame throwers and infantry. By this time the last Piat had been put out of action and Major Cain was armed with only a light 2" mortar. However, by a skilful use of this weapon and his daring leadership of the few men still under his command, he completely demoralized the enemy who, after an engagement lasting more than three hours, withdrew in disorder. Throughout the whole course of the Battle of Arnhem, Major Cain showed superb gallantry. His powers of endurance and leadership were the admiration of all his fellow officers and stories of his valour were being constantly exchanged amongst the troops. His coolness and courage under incessant fire could not be surpassed."
— Robert Henry Cain

Quote Details

Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Victoria Cross recipients
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
English (Original)

Sources

Victoria Cross citation, reported in the Supplement to The London Gazette of 31 October 1944 (2 November 1944), no. 36774, p. 5015

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_Henry_Cain

Revision History

No revisions have been submitted for this quote.

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Victoria Cross recipients
  4. /
  5. Quote by Robert Henry Cain

Categories

Victoria Cross recipients

Robert Henry Cain

5 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Robert Henry Cain →

Related Quotes

"For the first time since childhood tears sprang in my eyes. I turned away, swallowing hard, and with rage in my heart."
— Robert Henry Cain
Victoria Cross Recipients
"I cannot describe the surge of dreadful, unholy joy which I felt."
— Robert Henry Cain
Victoria Cross Recipients
"We passed Taffy Williams, a grand little Welshman and one of my originals. Only his head and face were untouched. The…"
— Robert Henry Cain
Victoria Cross Recipients
"It would have been a sheer waste of life to stay there. I felt extremely dejected. I knew our particular effort to ge…"
— Robert Henry Cain
Victoria Cross Recipients
HomePopularAdd Quote
Add Quote
HomePopularWorksQuotesAuthorsCATEGORIES
RECENTLY ADDED

Young though he was, his radiant energy produced such an impression of absolute reliability that Hedgewar made him the first sarkaryavah, or general secretary, of the RSS.

- Gopal Mukund Huddar

Largely because of the influence of communists in London, Huddar's conversion into an enthusiastic supporter of the fight against fascism was quick and smooth. The ease with which he crossed from one worldview to another betrays the fact that he had not properly understood the world he had grown in.

- Gopal Mukund Huddar

Huddar would have been 101 now had he been alive. But then centenaries are not celebrated only to register how old so and so would have been and when. They are usually celebrated to explore how much poorer our lives are without them. Maharashtrian public life is poorer without him. It is poorer for not having made the effort to recall an extraordinary life.

- Gopal Mukund Huddar

I regret I was not there to listen to Balaji Huddar's speech [...] No matter how many times you listen to him, his speeches are so delightful that you feel like listening to them again and again.

- Gopal Mukund Huddar

By the time he came out of Franco's prison, Huddar had relinquished many of his old ideas. He displayed a worldview completely different from that of the RSS, even though he continued to remain deferential to Hedgewar and maintained a personal relationship with him.

- Gopal Mukund Huddar

CATEGORIES
Novelists From The United States29258Thema28471Academics From The United States273392000s American Films18689Person17672