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Obituaries

Joseph Dunne, who has died aged 100, was born at Killurin, Co Wexford, on 8th June 1914.  Intending to join the New York police force, he had been advised to gain some experience in the British Army. He enlisted in the Irish Guards in 1936, seeing service initially in Egypt, Palestine, and later during the aborted campaign in Norway.  When war broke out he was sent to North Africa and in January 1944 was serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards following the amphibious landings at Anzio in January 1944.

There was little opposition during the initial landings, so 24th Guards Brigade were ordered to push inland to recce the village of Carroceto which, unbeknown to them, had been reinforced by the Germans. Sgt Dunne, commanding a platoon in 3 Company, held the Battalion’s left flank in the village. At about 0800 hours the Germans counter-attacked, over-running one platoon and knocking out two anti-tank guns and one medium machine gun. Sgt Dunne’s position was now exposed to enemy tanks. Adjusting his position, he was able to beat off two determined German attacks. Three days later, during a night attack on 29th/30th January, he was again leading his platoon when the platoon was held up by machine gun fire,  Dunne dashed forward, single-handedly destroying the enemy post, killing two Germans. The following morning, the company, together with an American Tank Destroyer Battalion, cleared the ridge on the left flank of the area. Here, Sgt Dunne led his platoon without loss, destroying three enemy posts ‘like a dose of salts, driving Krauts out in all directions’.

On 31st January, Sgt Dunne, armed with a rifle, stalked a German sniper’s nest, killing five of the six occupants; he tracked down the one survivor later that day. Three days later, Dunne was captured but escaped, despite being wounded. His citation describes his skill, determination, marksmanship and courage throughout the fighting around Anzio. He was awarded an immediate Distinguished Conduct Medal.

After the war, Dunne worked at the Junior Carlton Club, and on one occasion was said to have refused entry to a men-only bar to Margaret Thatcher.

In 2012, a campaign medal, the British Arctic Star, was approved by The Queen, and Joe Dunne received his medal the following year, aged 99. His wife Bridget, whom he married in 1947, died in 1961. They had five children.

With thanks to The Daily Telegraph

Joe Dunne being presented with a replacement set of medals to mark his 99th birthday in 2013