The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lance Corporal Robert Pearce, British Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy serving with Headquarters Company, 2d Parachute Battalion, in action against enemy forces during the battle of Arnhem, Belgium, from 17 September 1944 to 25 September 1944. When the whole of his brigade had become split up into isolated groups with no chain of command, Lance Corporal Pearce collected sixteen men of his battalion and put himself, and them, under the command of the rearguard, 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. On 23 September 1944, when a heavy enemy attack was developing in his sector, he led forward a Bren Gun team, established himself in a forward position, and, with complete disregard for his own safety, kept his gun in action, thus enabling the whole sector to be consolidated.