British George Cross recipient. Charles Alfred Duncan was born in Bexhill-on-Sea, in Sussex.
He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th. Parachute Battalion of the 2nd. Parachute Brigade. On the 10th July 1943, the Battalion were at M'Saken Airfield in Tunisia, awaiting the order to fly to Sicily, where the First Air-Landing Brigade were to capture the bridge at Ponte Grande, and the Second Parachute Brigade were to capture a bridge near Augusta. In the event, the Second Parachute Brigade were not required, because the Eighth Army had linked up, ahead of schedule, at Augusta with the S.R.S. The Brigade returned to camp, where they began to store their arms. All the parachutists had live grenades, which had to be rendered safe by unscrewing the base plate and removing the fuse. Private Duncan was doing this when one of his grenades fell on the floor and, as he went to pick it up, he noticed that the safety pin was missing and the fuse was burning. In order to save his comrades, he threw himself on top of the grenade, thereby sacrificing his own life.
The George Cross ranks second only to the Victoria Cross and is described as "the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed by men or women when not in the face of the enemy."
In 1972, his medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot.
He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th. Parachute Battalion of the 2nd. Parachute Brigade. On the 10th July 1943, the Battalion were at M'Saken Airfield in Tunisia, awaiting the order to fly to Sicily, where the First Air-Landing Brigade were to capture the bridge at Ponte Grande, and the Second Parachute Brigade were to capture a bridge near Augusta. In the event, the Second Parachute Brigade were not required, because the Eighth Army had linked up, ahead of schedule, at Augusta with the S.R.S. The Brigade returned to camp, where they began to store their arms. All the parachutists had live grenades, which had to be rendered safe by unscrewing the base plate and removing the fuse. Private Duncan was doing this when one of his grenades fell on the floor and, as he went to pick it up, he noticed that the safety pin was missing and the fuse was burning. In order to save his comrades, he threw himself on top of the grenade, thereby sacrificing his own life.
The George Cross ranks second only to the Victoria Cross and is described as "the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed by men or women when not in the face of the enemy."
In 1972, his medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot.
British George Cross recipient. Charles Alfred Duncan was born in Bexhill-on-Sea, in Sussex.
He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th. Parachute Battalion of the 2nd. Parachute Brigade. On the 10th July 1943, the Battalion were at M'Saken Airfield in Tunisia, awaiting the order to fly to Sicily, where the First Air-Landing Brigade were to capture the bridge at Ponte Grande, and the Second Parachute Brigade were to capture a bridge near Augusta. In the event, the Second Parachute Brigade were not required, because the Eighth Army had linked up, ahead of schedule, at Augusta with the S.R.S. The Brigade returned to camp, where they began to store their arms. All the parachutists had live grenades, which had to be rendered safe by unscrewing the base plate and removing the fuse. Private Duncan was doing this when one of his grenades fell on the floor and, as he went to pick it up, he noticed that the safety pin was missing and the fuse was burning. In order to save his comrades, he threw himself on top of the grenade, thereby sacrificing his own life.
The George Cross ranks second only to the Victoria Cross and is described as "the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed by men or women when not in the face of the enemy."
In 1972, his medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot.
He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th. Parachute Battalion of the 2nd. Parachute Brigade. On the 10th July 1943, the Battalion were at M'Saken Airfield in Tunisia, awaiting the order to fly to Sicily, where the First Air-Landing Brigade were to capture the bridge at Ponte Grande, and the Second Parachute Brigade were to capture a bridge near Augusta. In the event, the Second Parachute Brigade were not required, because the Eighth Army had linked up, ahead of schedule, at Augusta with the S.R.S. The Brigade returned to camp, where they began to store their arms. All the parachutists had live grenades, which had to be rendered safe by unscrewing the base plate and removing the fuse. Private Duncan was doing this when one of his grenades fell on the floor and, as he went to pick it up, he noticed that the safety pin was missing and the fuse was burning. In order to save his comrades, he threw himself on top of the grenade, thereby sacrificing his own life.
The George Cross ranks second only to the Victoria Cross and is described as "the highest award for acts of conspicuous gallantry performed by men or women when not in the face of the enemy."
In 1972, his medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot.
Inscription
6287023 Private
C.A. Duncan, G.C.
Parachute Regiment
Army Air Corps
10th. July 1943 Age 23
In loving memory of
my dear son Charles
Sadly missed by all
Mother
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