Frederick Joshua Darts, a Bricklayer from Bedford, enlisted into the Armed Forces 28 August 1938. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France before evacuation from Dunkirk and later volunteered for special service joining No.3 Commando.

Sergeant Darts, 6 Troop No.3 Commando, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during operations in Sicily. Prisoner of war 14 July 1943 until liberated by soldiers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 8 May 1945. Post war member of the Commando Association.

Sergeant Darts was in charge of a section of No.3 Commando at Agnone in Sicily on 13 July 1943. The beach on which the Commando landed was under heavy fire and casualties were suffered. Sergeant Darts' section was the last one to pass through the wire obstacles set up by the enemy.

He realised that to wait according to plan would be disastrous and therefore made a quick personal reconnaissance, discovered another gap and pushing his section through joined up with the Commando at the appointed forming up point. This quick decision undoubtedly saved many lives in his section.

Later in the battle Sergeant Darts gathered what remained of his section and fought a rear guard action with great skill and determination. Time and again his section inflicted casualties upon the enemy by holding on till the last possible moment in the leap frog withdrawal action. Finally the enemy began to close in and one party of German Parachutists who had worked round on the flank attempted to deceive the Commando rear guard by shouting out the password in English. Sergeant Darts spread out his small force and charged towards the position; in this action 12 of the enemy were killed but more enemy closed on the flanks and the section were pinned down.

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