The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Thomas Percival Cracknell (162070), British Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 12th Royal Horse Artillery, 6th Armored Division, in action near Djebel Keurn, el Rhazala, Tunisia. When the sector held by our forces was attacked by an enemy battalion, Captain Cracknell, with utter disregard for his own safety and in the face of intense rifle, machine gun and mortar fire, deliberately remained exposed in his observation post so that he could direct accurate artillery fire on the enemy. When an enemy artillery shell fell near his post, wounding a number of his men and damaging his radio, he calmly removed the wounded to places of safety and repaired the radio despite other shells falling about him. After laying a smoke screen to cover the withdrawal, he remained at his post still directing artillery fire until the last of our troops had passed him. By these courageous acts, Captain Cracknell had done much to instill in American troops the highest confidence and respect for the bravery, tenacity and skill of our British Allies.