On the night of 2 April 1945, the Royal Regiment of Canada was ordered to cross the Twente Canal and to secure a bridgehead for 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade. Subsequently the bridgehead was threatened by enemy tanks and it became imperative to provide armoured support for our troops. At 0300 hours 3 April 1945, Lieutenant Richardson, 2nd Canadian Field Company, was detailed to build and operate a Class 40 Bailey Raft to service the bridgehead. In spite of the intense darkness and adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Richardson completed construction without delay and was able to pass tanks and heavy vehicles into the bridgehead throughout the morning. Meanwhile, the enemy were positioning their guns and were obviously completely informed of the location of the rafting site. Throughout the afternoon the crossing place was subjected to intense, accurate artillery fire. Lieutenant Richardson continued to ferry traffic into the bridgehead with complete disregard for his perilous situation. At 1, 600 hours while commanding his raft in midstream if suffered a direct hit and one bay of the raft was carried away. Lieutenant Richardson alone of the raft crew was unhurt. He arranged the evacuation of his casualties and immediately too charge of repairs to the raft in spite of the continued shelling. Within two hours traffic was resumed. Again, at 1900 hours a near miss wrecked a bow pontoon which this officer immediately replaced. Within 45 minutes the raft was back in operation and for the next hour every ferrying trip had to be pass through harrowing enemy medium machine-gun fire which was directed along the canal. For 24 hours Lieutenant Richardson maintained the only traffic contact forward to the hard-pressed defenders in the bridgehead. He contributed immeasurably to the successful defence of this bridgehead which was vital to subsequent advance. This officer displayed a brand of leadership, devotion to duty and personal courage in keeping with the highest traditions of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers. Lieutenant Richardson has served with the 2 Canadian Field Company since November 1944, distinguishing himself on many occasions by his coolness and determination to get on with the job regardless of the dangers involved. His conduct in this operation at the Twente Canal was characteristic of this officer's outstanding performance throughout his entire period in action.