Lieutenant Clifford James, 2 Special Service Brigade Signals Officer, was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service during operations in Italy.

Capt. James as Bde. Signal Officer throughout the actions of Marina, Vietri and Piegolette showed an untiring energy, technical skill and a devotion to duty worthy of the highest praise. No deterrent whether occasioned by the hazards of battle or by physical fatigue, prevented Capt. James's efforts to maintain at all costs the best possible communications throughout the action. On all occasions he personally conducted the laying of line (with captured material since this equipment is not issued to the SS Bde) which was often accomplished under fire.

He also frequently visited his operators up with the forward fighting troops.

An example of this tenacity was shown when the Jeep from which he was laying cable during a critical period of the battle broke down on the middle of the Vietri viaduct at that time being mortared by the enemy and under fixed-line M.G. fire. Instead of temporarily abandoning this mission and returning for another Jeep, Capt. James laboriously unloaded the equipment from the disabled vehicle and continued to lay the line on foot.

I consider that such success as may be credited to the SS Bde. would not have been possible without the excellent communications which were maintained at all times, an achievement for which Capt James, through his disregard of danger, endurances, enterprise and skill was primarily responsible (R. Laycock, Brigadier commanding SS Brigade) [2].