Foard, Ernest Harry

Date of birth:: 1915 (Alton)
Date of death:: December 25th, 2019
Service number:: 1894233
Nationality:: British

Biography

Born in Alton during the First World War, Foard served with the Royal Engineers during the Second World War at Dunkirk, Egypt, Italy and during D-Day, It was while he was serving in Egypt that a friend was killed by a mine, which led to Foard becoming a self-taught mine expert.
He was subsequently mentioned in dispatches while in Italy and again in France, and was later presented with the Military Medal at Bree in Belgium by Field Marshall Montgomery.

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Military Medal (MM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lance-Sergeant
Unit:: 621st Field Squadron R.E., Divisional Troops, 7th Armoured Division, British Army
Awarded on:: March 1st, 1945

"On 9 August 1944, Cp, Foard was in charge of his Section of RE working forward on the road as the Battalion advanced on LES MAZURES. His task was the clearance of mines as far forward as possible to ensure the close support of tanks. He was ordered not to take his Section forward of the Battalion of the leading Company.
After he had cleared 16 mines from the road under fire, the Battalion was held up by enemy action. Realising the situation, Cpl. Foard immediately ordered his section under cover, and himself crawled forward along the ditch reconnoitering for further mines until he reached the enemy outpost positions on the other side of the hedge. He found no mines and was able to report the road clear well in advance of our leading troops.
Cpl. Foard's leadership, sound judgement, and coolness under fire are worthy of the highest praise. For his devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own personal safety he is strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Military Medal."