Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Acting Sergeant

Unit:

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Command Workshops

Awarded on:

November 11th, 1943

Citation:
"The A/N N.C.O. while serving as a R.E.M.W. Fitter attached to the 5th Gordon Highlanders 51st Division was captured while fighting a rear guard section with his platoon at St. Valery on the 12th June, 1940. After being held prisoner by the Germans for only fourteen days he escaped and by various means (not disclosed as he was sworn to secrecy by the War Office) he travelled to unoccupied France. He was imprisoned at Marseilles, escaped and attempted to cross the Spanish Frontier but failed was recaptured and punished. He again escaped and hid for two days in a life boat of a ship destined for Casablanca and was again captured. The next occasion he succeeded in boarding a vessel bound for North Africa, landed at Oran, was arrested, imprisoned and finally interned. He was repatriated after the signing of the armistice between Algeria and the Allied Forces. He immediately reported for duty, since when he has done a fine job of work and set a splendid example to his comrades and juniors. During his imprisonment and internment he suffered extreme hardships and exposure."