Sergeant B. E. Archibald, MM, m.i.d.; Wellington; born Auckland, 3 Apr 1921; apprentice motor-body builder; wounded 15 Dec 1943. (Source: Cody, J.F. NZ Engineers, Middle East. p.686.)

'Referring back to the Ammunition Company's trouble at the Agrippano crossroads, three trucks of components had got safely to Lieutenant Annabell's bridging party before the interruption, and in spite of having to take cover from time to time as the enemy Sapperayed the river line the sappers had the bridge across the wet gap by 1 a.m. An hour and a half later the approaches were finished and the dozer was working on the far bank. It is on record that 150 vehicles crossed this bridge by first light. The bridge was built at a cost of one killed and one wounded, and Lieutenant Annabell, whose example had no little influence on this pre-eminently successful effort, was later mentioned in despatches.

The high-level site was 200 yards farther to the right on the exposed flank of 5 Brigade and was subjected to quite heavy fire from mortars and guns in the Cotignola area. Sergeant Archibald distinguished himself first in leading the mine checking party and later in the actual bridge-building, during which nine sappers were hit, two fatally. Part of his MM citation reads:

‘The heavy fire continued during the bridging operations and the Platoon suffered severely in casualties, but by his personal example and inspiring leadership Sergeant Archibald rallied his men to complete the bridge by early morning, thus contributing to the rapid build up of support weapons in the bridgehead.’' (Source: Cody, J.F. NZ Engineers, Middle East. p. 686.) AWMM