Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

Headquarters Royal Engineers, 1st Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1944

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

Recommendation:
"On three successive nights, Lieutenant Storrs was in charge of Royal Engineer parties attempting to ferry, under fire, and in two-man reconnaissance boats, personnel across the River Lek. On the second night, 21st/22nd September, Lieutenant Storrs himself rowed across the fast running river twenty six times and brought twenty one soldiers of the Polish Parachute Brigade into the 1st Airborne Division bridgehead over from the South bank. In daylight on the 21st September, Lieutenant Storrs assisted the GSO1 {Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mackenzie} and Commander Royal Engineers {Lieutenant-Colonel Eddie Myers} in crossing the river on their journey to report on the situation to 30 Corps, and on the night 22nd/23rd September, he again successfully crossed the river, met the GSO1 on his return from 30 Corps, at a prearranged rendezvous, and safely brought him back into the bridgehead area.
On two occasions, Lieutenant Storrs, regardless of his own safety, successfully organised parties to put out fires in the Divisional HQ area caused by enemy shelling - in one instance a large petrol dump fire - in another an Motor Transport park.
His endurance, his courage and his devotion to duty and leadership displayed by this officer throughout the whole period of the occupation of the bridgehead area, were of the very highest order, and he is recommended for an immediate award of the Military Cross.