Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Sergeant

Unit:

2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, 7th Motor Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, British Army

Awarded on:

August 13th, 1942

Citation:
"For outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty at Bir Hacheim on 8 June 42. Sgt. Calistan commanded one of a section of portees supporting carriers in an attack on an enemy O.P. and A.Tk gun position. His portee came under considerable A.Tk and supporting gunfire almost at once but by his good fire orders made possible by his determination to observe his fire, he scored two direct hits on one of the guns and disable it. When observation became difficult owing to blast he left his portee and observed from a flank where he was engaged by MG fire. His portee was twice hit by A.Tk fire but was kept in action. On a later occasion he was again with the carriers when they went in against a concentration of enemy vehicles protected by A.Tk and machine guns. He kept his portee well forward in the action destroying an A.Tk gun and a Staff car. At the end of this engagement he was wounded by an A.Tk shot while sitting high up on his portee directing the fire of his gun.

Throughout these two actions he was a magnificent example to his crew and carried out his duty as No.1 with complete disregard for his own safety."

WO 373/59/971

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Sergeant

Unit:

2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, 7th Motor Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, British Army

Awarded on:

January 14th, 1943

Citation:
"Sgt. Calistan was Section Commander of a section of 6 pdr anti-tank guns sited on the west flank of the Snipe position 866295 on 26 & 27 Oct 42. Sqt. Calistan's troop was engaged by enemy tanks both during the night and the following morning: by midday 27 Oct all the other guns in his troop had been knocked out, and all the other numbers of his own gun crew but himself wounded and incapacitated. The troop was almost out of ammunition.

At about 1300 hrs 15 German tanks attacked his sector. The Commanding Officer arrived at his position and acted as loader while he laid the gun and acted as No.1. With greatest courage and coolness he waited until the tanks were 200-300 yds away, and hit and set nine of them on fire. He then had no more ammunition left. Unperturbed he waited while his troop commander fetched more ammunition, and when it had arrived, hit three more enemy tanks in as many shots., and so broke and repelled the enemy attack. he continued to operate his gun for the rest of the day. After dark he received orders to close on to Coy HQ, and withdraw with the rest of his company. He set off to walk the 400 yds to Coy HQ under heavy MG fire from 3 German tanks, carrying one of the wounded members of his crew. The wounded man was hit and killed in his arms. He immediately returned to his troop position to fetch the last remaining wounded man, whom he brought safely back, still under intense & accurate fire.

Throughout the action, the quality of his determination was such that, when the last point of human endurance & ability to continue to fight had been reached, Sgt. Calistan took a new lease of courage. This he communicated to all around him, and with their help he saved the day, so enabling his Battalion to withdraw safely from a critical position, after inflicting losses of 57 tanks burnt on the enemy.

During this action, his superb gallantry was outstanding among many courageous acts performed."

WO 373/59/971