GALLON, Thomas Christopher Dennison

Rank: 
Temporary Sergeant
Unit / Base: 
43RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
EX/3235
Honours & Awards: 

Sergeant Thomas Gallon was awarded the Military Medal for great courage and exemplary behaviour whilst carrying out commando operations under heavy enemy fire off the Yugoslavian coast.
Recommendation
Operation Flounced, ref Map Yugoslavia 1/100000 sheet 109.
Night Attack on Pt.622 (0960) 3 Jun.44.

Sgt Gallon was in charge of the leading section whose task it was to blow a hole through the wire and minefield and assault through it. For about a mile his Tp was under heavy fire. When the wire was reached he blew a gap through it but was wounded in the leg while doing it. Despite this wound he led his section through this gap and assaulted an enemy position which had been firing at them.
When on the objective his Tp. Comd. was killed and he took charge of the remnants of the Tp. He was then ordered to withdraw from the position and he reorganised and led them back still under fire.
Hearing that some had been left behind he went back again although wounded to try and get them back. He was again wounded and could no longer walk. He crawled back and was picked up by a stretcher party who had gone out to search for wounded.
This NCO's courage and devotion to duty, though in great pain, was an inspiration to all ranks.

Sources
London Gazette 36979, page 1386.
National Archives file WO373/47/55.

Notes 
Middle names shown as in LG entry. The National Archives file records his middle names as Charles Dennis.


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