Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flight Lieutenant

Unit:

No. 437 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Awarded on:

March 9th, 1945

No citation found, but the following account is in his file at DHist:
This officer was decorated for his leadership of a group of evaders who had been forced down in France. Flying as second pilot aboard a 233 Squadron Dakota on a D-Day supply dropping mission, he and his crew companions were forced to crash-land after their aircraft had been extensively damaged and set on fire by flak. They landed on the outskirts of Giberville, near Caen, in a hay field that was sprouting anti-aircraft and -glider obstacles. Semple suffered a deep head wound that bled profusely until tightly bound. The others were rather badly shaken up, and one had a cracked rib or two.

The evaders split up into two groups and began to move south. Semple's group presently found an abandoned house on the edge of Giberville, where its members proceeded to establish themselves as well as possible. The first person to challenge them was a Frenchwoman, who shouted the traditional "Qui va la ?" Learning the evaders' identity she soundly kissed Semple and one of his companions again and again. (This was but another of the hazards of evasion). She directed them to another house, where they were given food and shelter by the owner and had their wounds dressed by the village cure. The were also outfitted with civilian clothing.

Soon moving to the nearby village of Tilly la Campagne, they there occupied a fully furnished house which they had all to themselves, having been given the key by the owner who was temporarily living elsewhere. There was considerable German activity in the village both by day and by night, but especially by night when motorized columns were passing through. Nevertheless, the evaders were undetected. They were even bold enough to venture forth and reconnoitre Giberville in an attempt to learn the whereabouts of the British forward troops. En route thereto they were stopped by German guards to whom they pleaded that they were on their way to bury a dead friend who had been left in the town. (This was true. One of their French assistants had been killed during a shelling of the town two days before, and they later buried him). After considerable arguing they were allowed to pass, but were warned that any civilians found in Giberville were liable to be shot. Despite the warning they settled down more or less permanently in an empty house in the village, having decided to hide out in Giberville to await the arrival of British troops. During this resettlement period Semple was again the recipient of a kiss, this time by an attractive mademoiselle who had vowed thus to favour the first Allied soldier she met.

His closest call came during one of his frequent forays for food. On his way out of a deserted farmhouse he found himself face-to-face with two grey-clad members of the Wehrmacht. Maintaining his composure, he smiled broadly and greeted them with "Bon jour". When they inquired in French what he was doing there, he replied that the house belonged to his family, who had been evacuated, and that he had returned for a fresh pair of socks, his old one being worn out. (He had snatched a pair during his foraging, and these he now held up for display). The Germans fell for the line, remarking, "C'est la guerre", to which he replied "Oui, certainement - c'est la guerre".

Shortly after he returned to the hide-out, deserted Giberville was "zeroed in" by British artillery, and the evasion team had to take shelter in a slit trench for thirty minutes. That was exactly three weeks after D-Day.

The following day they learned from an itinerant Italo-Frenchman that British troops were in Longueual, but a short distance away. Next morning, at 0315 hours, they set out for that town. The rest of their adventures, as described in Semple's words, went like this:

"...I split the group into two sections. The first was made up of F/O Williams (the wireless operator of his crew), a French boy who knew the district well, and me; another section of six followed some distance behind. I gave explicit orders that the rear section should do exactly as we did, that is, stop when we stopped, and move when we moved, keeping their distance. I also said that in the event of a definite risk of capture, every man should fend for himself.

"We cut across the fields, avoiding enemy positions about which the Italian had warned us. At 0400 hours, while we were passing a wood, snipers opened up with trader fire, and we had to throw ourselves flat on the ground. They were so near that we could hear them working their rifle bolts. It was still dark, but the light of dawn was beginning to show on the horizon and luckily was in the sniper's eyes. After a few minutes the firing stopped and we went forward on our hands and knees. Having moved on about fifteen or twenty yards, I stopped to check on the rear party. As it was nowhere in sight I crawled back to the area where we had last stopped and continued for perhaps fifty yards beyond. There was still no sign of any of the party. I even called out its members names, but the only result was a few more shots that arrived in my vicinity. I returned to my section and we waited ten minutes for the others to turn up, all the while crouched in a cornfield. As it was now getting too light for comfort, we decided to go on without them. We suddenly reached the end of the cornfield and made a mad scramble on our hands and knees across 200 yards of open country with no reaction from the enemy. We would proceed in this fashion until reaching another cornfield and then, upon hitting Longueual, we stumbled upon a minefield. Luckily several mines were wired together and were clearly visible. While retracing our steps we were overjoyed to hear the typical English exclamation, "Oy !" We had reached our objective; we were in the hands of the British 51st Division."

Public Records Office Air 2/9231 has recommendation dated 5 December 1944.
This officer was second pilot of a Dakota aircraft of 233 Squadron taking part in a supply dropping mission on 6th June 1944. The aircraft was severely hit by light flak whilst over the sea near the coast and again on crossing the coast. Owing to lack of height a crash landing was made near Giberville in enemy occupied territory.
On instructions from the pilot the party split into two sections and Flying Officer Semble, although injured, too charge of one section consisting of himself , Flying Officer Williams, and three Royal Army Service Corps despatchers.
Flying Officer Semple's party was behind the enemy lines for a period of 24 hours and during the whole of this time Flying Officer Semple displayed marked qualities of courage, resource and leadership in obtaining food and shelter for the party and in evading capture. After obtaining civilian clothes, Flying Officer Semple was challenged by German sentries on at least two occasions and succeeded in convincing them that he was a Frenchman.
During this time other evaders joined the party under Flying Officer Semple's leadership. Finally it became necessary to split the party into two sections and Flying Officer Semple successfully led his section through the firing line into the British lines. At all times Flying Officer Semple showed a singleness of purpose and consideration both for the French civilians who helped him and for the other members of his party.
Since this officer's return to duty he has carried out two resupply missions over Arnhem as a pilot with No.437 (RCAF Squadron).

The same file has the final citation as submitted to Air Ministry Honours and Awards Committee; note the changed rank:
Flight Lieutenant Semple was second pilot of a Dakota aircraft engaged in a supply dropping mission on 6th June 1944. The aircraft was hit severely by anti-aircraft fire while over the sea and when crossing the coast, and a crash landing was made near Giberville. The occupants of the aircraft formed two parties. Flight Lieutenant Semple took charge of one of the parties, consisting of another Royal Air Force officer and three soldiers. The party was behind enemy lines for 24 hours and during this time Flight Lieutenant Semple displayed marked qualities of courage, resource and leadership in obtaining food and shelter and also in evading capture. After obtaining civilian clothes, Flight Lieutenant Semple was challenged by German sentries on at least two occasions but was successful in convincing them that he was a Frenchman. When other evaders joined the party it was necessary to split the party into two sections. Flight Lieutenant Semple successfully led his section through the firing line into the British lines. This officer displayed great initiative and courage.