- SURNAME
Galbraith
- FORENAME
Donald
- UNIT
SOE Poland (Op.Freston)
- RANK
Warrant Officer Second Class
- NUMBER
2324250
- AWARD
British Empire Medal
- PLACE
Poland 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Corps of Signals
born 25.2.1917
recommended for M.B.E.
1945 married Sylvia (nee Hall) (1925-1991)
died 17.01.1974, Hull, Yorkshire, UK (Aged 54)
London Gazette 37536, 16th April 1946, Page 1949
CITATION:
British Empire Medal : C.S.M. GALBRAITH was dropped by parachute as W/T operator with the first British observer party to go to German-occupied POLAND in December, 1944.
The German measures for detecting wireless transmitters have always been so effective in POLAND that W/T work was a matter of extreme hazard. GALBRAITH worked skilfully and cooly, and always without regard for his personal safety, even when the Mission was in close contact with the enemy. He succeeded in establishing communications with base in the U.K. after most of his heavy equipment had been lost, when the Germans attacked the party shortly after landing.
During the whole period, when the Mission was operationally employed, he worked untiringly and without complaint under conditions of great difficulty.
It is recommended that this N.C.O. be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division).
The German measures for detecting wireless transmitters have always been so effective in POLAND that W/T work was a matter of extreme hazard. GALBRAITH worked skilfully and cooly, and always without regard for his personal safety, even when the Mission was in close contact with the enemy. He succeeded in establishing communications with base in the U.K. after most of his heavy equipment had been lost, when the Germans attacked the party shortly after landing.
During the whole period, when the Mission was operationally employed, he worked untiringly and without complaint under conditions of great difficulty.
It is recommended that this N.C.O. be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division).
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396765 (BEM)https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8945455 (SOE File)
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37536/supplement/1949
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7396765
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