Corporal Harry Litherland was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe [1].

"Throughout the campaign in North-West Europe, Cpl Litherland's cheerfulness and devotion to duty, no matter what have been the circumstances, have been beyond praise.
In action, at Port en Bessin as a marine, he took charge of a section when his section commander was wounded and by his personal example was largely responsible for the successful completion of the task allotted to his section. Throughout the period of the bridgehead, he volunteered for and took part in several patrols of a hazardous nature.
Later at Walcheren, he again cheerfully took over the responsibilities of commanding his section on his NCO becoming a casualty.

At Kapelsche Veer on the river Maas, on the night of 16-17 January 1945, he was in the leading group of a strong fighting patrol which was sent to secure a firm base from which the Commando could make an attack. Before the firm base was reached two enemy patrols were met and wiped out due almost entirely to his initiative.
Later, when the main Commando attack was held, and heavy casualties had been incurred, he volunteered to take his Bren Group to help the leading troop.

On arrival there his cool direction of the bren gun, and his personal bravery in attacking (in company with only one other marine) an enemy slit trench from which an enemy machine gun was dominating our own positions, were largely instrumental in beating off the counter-attack.

Situations as cited above are but a few examples of this NCO's magnificent personal example on all occasions" [2].