Marine Charles Paton, 4 RM Engineer Commando, was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe.

"Marine Paton, of the Royal Marine Engineer Commando Detachment attached to 4 Commando Brigade, landed in Normandy on 26th June 1944. 
From that date, until the end of the War in Europe, he has borne himself in a manner that has been a source of inspiration to his comrades both in and out of battle. He has continually been to the fore when there were, as happened not infrequently, mines to be lifted, and booby traps to be disarmed. In spite of the fact that casualties were suffered in his detachment he did not once fail to volunteer for any job, however hazardous.

His powers of endurance, his courage, fortitude and ability to be cheerful in depressing circumstances, have often been sorely tried but have never been found wanting. Indeed, in the words of the S.O.R.E. attached to 4 Commando Brigade, "his conduct has always encouraged his companions to further efforts".

These qualities were particularly noticeable and effective during the severe winter of 1944 on the island of Walcheren. There, Paton's detachment was, for some considerable time, daily engaged on the most arduous task of clearing amphibian tracks along flooded roads which had been mined with large calibre shells. Working under almost impossible conditions, his spirits never flagged, and his example was an inspiration to his comrades.

On two occasions, both in De Haan in October 1944, when casualties occurred in mine-clearing parties, Mne Paton had not the slightest hesitation in immediately re-entering the mined area. His prompt action encouraged others to follow and on both occasions the casualties were successfully evacuated."