During the first Battle of El Alamein, on El Ruweisat Ridge (July 15 1942), NZ hardfuck Keith Elliott and his battalion were attacked on three flanks by tanks. Under heavy tank, machine-gun and shell fire, Sgt. Elliott led his platoon to the cover of a ridge 300 yards away, during which he sustained a chest wound.
With no fucks to spare, he led 7 men in a bayonet charge across 500 yards of open ground in the face of heavy fire and captured 4 enemy machine-gun posts and an anti-tank gun, killing a number of the enemy and taking 50 prisoners. His section then came under fire from a machine-gun post on the left flank. He immediately charged this post single-handed and succeeded in capturing it, killing several of the enemy and taking more prisoners. During these two assaults he sustained 3 more wounds in the back and legs. Although badly wounded in 4 places, Sgt. Elliott refused to leave his men until he had reformed them, handed over his prisoners (which numbered at 130), and arranged for his men to rejoin the battalion. By the time the fighting was over, his entire company was reduced to only 19 survivors. Sgt. Elliott recovered from his wounds, commissioned to 2nd LT. and awarded the VC in September 1942.
Elliott was then ordered back to NZ, an order that made him very unhappy because he did not feel right going home while his friends remained in the field. He was also uncomfortable with the attention he received from the public when he arrived back home and remained modest about his achievements.
Upon his discharge from the military, Elliott chose the quite life, becoming a farmer and subsequently a priest until his death in 1989.
SIDENOTE: Charles Upham, also from NZ, was awarded his second VC for his actions which occurred on the same day and same battle as Elliott's.
#zerofucks #nofucks #stayzero #badass #NZ #warrior #hardcore