Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

59th Light Aid Detachment, 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment), 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, 8th Indian Infantry Division, British Indian Army

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1944

Recommendation:
During the crossing of the Gari River, 12 May 1944, by tanks of the 11 Canadian Armoured Regiment near San Angelo (Map Reference 8515), many tanks bogged down in the soft river flat. Working under fierce enemy shell and mortar fire, threatened by snipers concealed along the river bank, Sergeant Carson supervised the recovery and evacuation of our tanks under the worst possible conditions. When one tank was hit and one caught on fire, and all attempts to extinguish the blaze failed, Sergeant Carson personally placed a cable on the burning tank, then pulled it into the river, thereby preventing its total destruction. During the remainder of the day, his cool direction of recovery operations was a steadying influence on the men working under him. His courage, determination under fire and tenacity of purpose were largely instrumental in the recovery of 23 bogged tanks, enabling them to rejoin the regiment at a time when they were urgently needed.