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the PWD building and from elevated positions. L/Cpl. McLennon’s life
was saved because of the foresight of his superiors, notably
Maj. Mahatma Williams and Lt. Col. David Cummings in specially
fortifying the FEL prior to the operation. L/Cpl. McLennon’s personal
courage and dedication to duty are to be highly commended and his
subsequent award for bravery was an appropriate acknowledgment.
4.109.
Bravo Company, led by Maj. Henry, was the recipient of
constant, sustained and coordinated gunfire before and during its entry
into Coronation Market, at the old MPM complex and on its way to the
Plazas on Spanish Town Road. These attacks had the consequence of
considerably retarding the progress of Bravo Company to such an
extent that that Company was not able to seize the strategic high
ground of Foxy’s Plaza and PassaPassa Plaza until shortly after
4.30 p.m. Having seen actual, real time video footage of the gunfire to
which Bravo Company was exposed, we were astonished at its
intensity and duration.
4.110.
Although we did not receive much evidence of attacks
launched by gunmen positioned in Denham Town, we accept
Maj. Henry’s evidence that sustained gunfire came from areas such as
Oxford Mall, Matthews Lane and Denham Town itself during 24 May.
4.111.
It is not surprising that members of the JCF were also
under intense gunfire on 24 May since they were operating jointly with
the JCF. Members of the JCF formed part of the forward assault troops
of the JDF as was explained by commanders of the JDF and, to the
extent that the JDF troops came under fire in their approach to Tivoli
Gardens, it follows that members of the JCF were also the recipients of
gunfire.