Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

June 15th, 1944

Recommendation:
"In November 1942, when Major BIELER was dropped into FRANCE, he fell on a large rock seriously injuring his back. He made no mention of the incident at the time and only revealed the extend of the injury in a written report which he sent home in the following March.
The seriousness of this injury was afterwards confirmed in reports later received from a colleague.
In spite of this injury, this officer has built op a circuit which has carried out seven successful receptions, although it lies in an area where flak makes deliveries of material extremely difficult. It is now fully prepared for an operational role of major importance.
This officer carried on his work over a period of fifteen months and was able to supply much valuable information regarding the area where he worked.
Recommended for the award of the M.B.E."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

August 1st, 1944

Recommendation:
"This officer was parachuted into France on 28th November 1942, and was seriously injured in landing. Despite his injury he received a large number of parachute deliveries of arms and explosives, and was decorated for his work up to February 1943. Throughout 1943, he undertook a large number of sabotage operations, including the destruction of an enenmy troop train at Senlis in February 1943, twenty derailments between St. Quentin and Lille, damage to 10 locomotives by means of abrasives in November 1943, and the destruction of 11 locomotives, an engine repair shop and other installations at Tourcoing in December. His D-Day sabotage organisation was ready by the end of the year with teams equipped with explosives installed at 25 points on the railways in his area, and groups equipped with sub-machine guns in position to attack road and rail convoys in the area St. Quentin, Bon Guise, Bohin, Le Chatelet, Cambrai, Douai and Naubeuge. He had also a group ready to cut the Paris-Lille telephone line. These groups carried out their work on and after D-Day with every great success.
Major BIELER was arrested in February 1944. It has now been reported that despite the most barbarous of torture by the enemy over a period extending over at least 8 days, he refused resolutely to divulge the names of any of his associates, or the location of any arms dumps. Despite the intense pain that he was suffering from the injury to his back, aggrevated by atrocious torture, designed expressly to exaberate his injury, he faced up to the Gestapo with the utmost determination and courage, and by his silence a British officer associated with him, his British radio operator (female) and a considerable number of Frenchmen avoided arrest.
It is recommended that Major BIELER be appointed a Companion in the Distinguished Service Order.
(sgd) C. McV. GUBBINS, Major-General. 10.9.45
Since this citation was written it has been learned that Major Bieler was executed in the Flossenburg Camp in early September 1944."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

January 16th, 1946

Citation:
"This British officer who volunteeered for missions into occupied territory, was parachuted in the Lille region on 28 November 1942. Even though seriously injured as a result of his parachute jump he completed his mission, although suffering continuously, within 15 months in a region which was closely controlled by the Gestapo. He actively bulld up strong sabotage teams which resulted in numerous operations on railways and against industrial installations in the region.
He was arrested by the Gestapo in February 1944 and has proven the greatest courage and the most perfect devotion to the victory of the allied cause and was rightly appreciated for the contribution to the resistance forces."

"Officier britannique volontaire pour des missions en territoire occupé, parachuté dans la région de Llle, le 28 novembre 1942. Bien que gravement blessé à la suite du parachutage, accomplit sa mission pendant 15 mois malgré des souffrances continuelles et dans une région étroitement contrôlée par la Gestapo; contribua activement à mettre sur pied puissantes équipes de sabotage quit procédèrent à de nombreuses actions sur les voies ferrées et contre les instillations industrielles de la région.
Arrêté par la Gstapo en février 1944, a fait preuve pendant toute sa mission du plus beau courage et du plus parfait dévouement pour le triomphe de la cause alliée et a justement apprécié, l'apport des forces de la Résistance".

CES CITATIONS COMPORTENT L'ATTRIBUTION DE LA CROIX DE GUERRE AVEC PALME.

Paris, le 16 janvier 1946
Signé: de GAULLE

With Palm.