Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Driver

Unit:

128 Wessex Field Ambulance, 42nd Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division, British Army

Awarded on:

October 19th, 1944

Citation:
‘On the 3rd and 4th of August 1944, the Guards Armoured Division was advancing south between St. Martin Des Besaces and St. Charles De Percy. During this time the road was subject to heavy mortar, artillery and marine gun fire. (128) Wessex Field Ambulance was evacuating casualties occurring in 32 Gds. Brigade. Driver Alfred Carty drove his ambulance repeatedly to collect casualties from the most forward aid posts, notwithstanding the fact that his ambulance was several times hit by splinters. At about 2300 hrs on the 4th August Driver Carty was attempting , for the third time to get his ambulances to the 5th Battalion, The Coldstream Guards who were temporarily cut off by the enemy South of St Charles De Percy but was prevented from advancing further by a tank engagement which blocked all the roads. On hearing that there was a casualty of the 2nd (Armd) Irish Guards in the vicinity, he left his ambulance and went some 300 yards on foot, and under fire, to pick up the wounded man and carry him with the help of the ambulance orderly back to the ambulances. The driver once more attempted to get through to the Coldstream Guards, but finding it quite impossible to do so, brought his casualty back to the collecting post of this Field Ambulance. By his outstanding skill and perseverance, and complete disregard of personal danger Driver Alfred Carty set a magnificent example, brought many casualties more rapidly back to full medical treatment than would otherwise have been possible and in so doing contributed materially to the high morale of all troops in the vicinity.’

WO 373/49/461