| Surname: | Dale |
| Initials: | P C |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Army Number: | 7686615 |
| Notes: | CMP. Took part in Sicily landings, see Dale's report in WO 169/8675. 1 Airborne Division Provost Company, Arnhem . WO 169/8675, War Diary 1 Airborne Div Pro Coy, CMP. REPORT. To; - The Officer Commanding Provost Coy, 1st Airborne Division. Sir, I have to report that at Company HQ in the field on the 9th JULY, 1943 I was instructed to report to the BORDER REGT, AIRBORNE DIVISION for police duties on "SCHEME HORRIFIC". On reporting to the THE BORDER REGT I was instructed to report to the ADJUTANT who briefed me for the scheme which was explained to be as being an invasion of SICILY by GLIDER BORNE troops, my duties being to travel to the objective as a passenger in one of the RIFLE COMPANY'S GLIDERS and then join HQ Coy, BORDER REGT who were allotted No. 103 GLIDER. We left the Company Lines at approximately 1700hrs on the 9th July 1943 and proceeded to AIRFIELD "D", No. 3 strip, boarding our AIRCRAFT about 1900 hrs and were AIRBORNE some fifteen minutes later. In company with many other aircraft we headed towards our objective at almost sea level (200 ft approx). The sea crossing to within sight of out objective was uneventful except for a glimpse of the sea born invasion fleet soon after sunset. Soon after sighting land at approximately 2200 hrs our glider cast off from the Tug Plane which seemed strange as according to information received earlier we were to release at 11000 feet, 3000 yds from land, yet it was obvious that our height was less and distance to shore considerably more, three to five miles i thought. I had no sooner checked my equipment when the senior GLIDER Pilot a Staff Serjeant of the Army Air Corps told us that we should land in the sea and were to discard our equ8ipment and open all doors.. We had ample time to escape from the cabin of the Glider (which landed fairly smoothly) before it filled with water, though on checking up on personnel whilst sitting on the wing. one L/Cpl. from the BORDER REGT. was missing, For a while the sea was very calm but later a heavy swell came from the direction of the land and after about two hours the machine broke up, both wings and tail coming adrift. To ease the weight on the waterlogged machine for non swimmers another man (name unknown to me) and myself attempted to swim to the beach, After about half an hour owing to the heavy seas I lost contact with my companion and then swam steadily towards the faint outline of the coast. my last recollection being seeing the sun above the horizon. I then found myself wrapped in blankets on an invasion barge which the crew afterwards told me picked me up at about 0730 hrs. After landing the troops the boat retuned to its Base Ship SS DEVONSHIRE where I was left in the care of the medical room personnel. The DEVOMSHIRE proceeded to SUEZ where together with other survivors of the Division. I spent two days in the transit camp a further 12 days (approx) in the 2nd I?T?D, Camp, GENIFA, finally returning by Air Transport via BENGHAZI on the 31 st July 1943 and 1st AUGUST 1942 to AIRFIELD "D" reaching my COMPANY LINES at 1800 hrs approx. War Diary WO 171/407 1 Airborne Division Pro Coy. 26/9/44 D + 9, with drawl across river, Div HQ moved 22.30 hrs, Provost party 2 hours later, Cpl Dale and L/Cpl Storey remained behind with POW's until last party was clear. Capt Gray received wounds from which he has died, only one got across the river. Peter Charles Dale. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Dutch Bronze Cross (London Gazette: 37909 Page: 1315 March 20, 1947) |
| Citation: | Dutch Bronze Cross Citation: After landing by parachute in ARNHEM area on 18 Sep 44, Cpl Dale, not with standing the fact that the DZ was swept by enemy fire, showed complete disregard for his personal safety by searching the area and rendering first aid to the wounded. Subsequently on the night of 25/26 Sep, Cpl Dale volunteered to remain behind to guard 200 POW and thus prevented any possibility of their escape intefering with the withdrawl of the Division. He remained under increasingly heavy fire. Only when the last parties were well clear at 23.30hrs Cpl Dale made his own way down to the river through the enemy lines and swam to the South Bank as no boats were then available. During the whole of this very exacting operation his cooolnes and cheerful disposition were an inspiration to those around him. Maj-General, Commander 1st Airborne Division. GOC Headquarters Airborne Troops (21 Army Group). B L Montgomery Field Marshal Commander-in-Chief, 21 Army Group.26/9/44 D+9 withdrawal across river, Div HQ moved 22.30 hrs Provost Party 2 hours later. Cpl Dale and L/Cpl Storry remained behind with POW until last party clear. Unit War Diary WO 171/407.L/Cpl Ken Storry received an MID for his part in the evacuation. |