During the afternoon the area was under very heavy enemy artillery fire for some
four hours from nine 40 millimetre flak guns and Captain PYPER's
observation tank received four direct hits and was set on fire.
Captain Pyper managed to escape from the burning tank and crawled
into an adjacent
barn and set up a new observation post and carried on with supporting
artillery fire.
The barn received several direct hits during the remainder of the
afternoon but Captain Pyper with complete disregard
for his personal safety
skillfully directed artillery fire on the enemy guns and finally
silenced them.
On 1 May 1945 Captain Pyper was still with C Company in the town of HEVESKES when
his observation post was hit and his operator killed and the two remaining
members of the party were wounded.
Captain Pyper remained at his post for six hours operating the wireless set,
directing artillery fire on targets and maintaining liaison with
the forward company, a task normally done by four men.
Captain Pyper's devotion to duty and initiative undoubtedly saved many lives
for the infantry battalion and his conduct was an outstanding
example and an inspiration to all ranks of C Company of the IRISH
REGIMENT OF CANADA.”
“On the 30 April 1945, during the attack of the IRISH REGIMENT OF CANADA on
HEVESKES in HOLLAND, Gunner FEHR was a Signaller in an artillery
observation post tank when the area was subjected to heavy shell fire from
enemy guns only eight hundred yards distant.
It was imperative that these guns must be silenced because they threatened to
engage C Company of the Irish Regiment of Canada who had advanced to
the area HEVESKES and were about to attack.
The shell splinters were continually hitting the sides of the tank and the
first round shot away the aerial rod.
Disregarding this fact and in full view of the enemy, Gunner Fehr climbed
on top of the tank and replaced the aerial.