APPLEYARD, Frank
Primary tabs
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Unit / Base:
48RM Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Marines
Service:
Royal Navy
Number:
PLY/X 106192
Honours & Awards:
Born:
Saturday, August 12, 1922
Birthplace:
Shaw, Lancashire
Died :
Tuesday, June 6, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age:
21
Cemetery/Memorial:
Operations:
Lance Corporal Frank Appleyard MM died during operations at Normandy, France. Son of Charles and Bessie Appleyard, of Shaw, Lancashire.
July 1943 (Marine) (7th Bn. Royal Marines) awarded the Military Medal.
July 1943 (Marine) (7th Bn. Royal Marines) awarded the Military Medal.
Recommendation
"Masa Palato, Sicily, 20th July 1943
This Marine was in 7 platoon when pinned down in a gulley. When the platoon were evacuating the gulley, he remained alone at a turn in the gulley, and continued firing his rifle every time the snipers fired a burst of machine gun fire at the troops evacuating wounded. By so doing he diverted the attention to himself and undoubtedly greatly increased the chances of the survivors who were carrying the wounded back.
This Marine was in 7 platoon when pinned down in a gulley. When the platoon were evacuating the gulley, he remained alone at a turn in the gulley, and continued firing his rifle every time the snipers fired a burst of machine gun fire at the troops evacuating wounded. By so doing he diverted the attention to himself and undoubtedly greatly increased the chances of the survivors who were carrying the wounded back.
Sometime after the platoon had been ordered to withdraw, Mne. Appleyard returned to the gulley to make sure that no wounded on our side had been left behind, and as a result of this further act of bravery, was alone for 36 hours without food or water.
He had previously gone up the gulley to fill the water bottles at a well which was under fire from the enemy, completely disregarding the danger to himself.
I consider he showed the greatest courage and gallantry."
Sources
CWGC.
Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.
National Archives file WO 373/47/138.
London Gazette 36249, page 5035.
Primary Roll of Honour:
Photo of grave in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :
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