Pat Porteous VC - Most Gallant Conduct

Captain (Acting Major) Pat Porteous was awarded the Victoria Cross for his ‘most gallant conduct’ during Operation Cauldron, the commando raid to destroy six 155mm guns of No. 813 Battery at Varengeville-sur-Mer near Dieppe.

The ‘smash and grab’ raid by Lord Lovat’s No. 4 Commando was later described as 'a classic example of the use of well-trained troops and a thoroughness in planning, training, and execution.' Testament to this was the number of honours bestowed on the unit, including the VC.

The raid consisted of two groups landing on separate beaches. The first, led by Major Derek Mills-Roberts, was tasked with providing covering fire, while Lovat’s group carried out the attack on the guns and the German garrison. The commandos landed on the hostile shore, cleared barbed-wire obstacles with Bangalore torpedoes, and scaled the cliffs with speed and aggression.

Pat Porteous’s job was to liaise between the two groups. However, during the initial assault he was shot at close range through the hand, the bullet passing through his palm and entering his upper arm. Undeterred, he chased down his attacker, who was about to shoot a fellow commando, disarmed him, and killed him with his bayonet.

Despite his wounds, Porteous then raced to lead a troop that had just lost its officer and sergeant major. His VC citation describes his actions:

'Without hesitation and in the face of withering fire, he dashed across the open ground to take over command of the detachment. Rallying them, he led them on a charge which carried the German position at the point of the bayonet and was severely wounded for the second time. Though shot through the thigh, he continued to the final objective where he eventually collapsed from loss of blood after the last of the guns had been destroyed. Major Porteous’s most gallant conduct, his brilliant leadership, and tenacious devotion to a duty which was supplementary to the role originally assigned to him, was an inspiration to the whole of the detachment.'

The actions of Pat Porteous and the men of No. 4 Commando highlighted how small groups of highly trained men, using only the weapons and ammunition they could carry, could successfully carry out raids on the German-occupied coast. Inspirational leadership, courage, and determination in adversity were exactly the qualities that Winston Churchill called for in his demand for 'men of the hunter class.'

After recovering from his wounds, Pat Porteous VC returned to command ‘D’ Troop, landed with No. 4 Commando on Sword Beach on D-Day, and fought throughout the Normandy campaign. He survived the war and continued as a regular soldier before finally retiring after 33 years’ service in 1970.