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Create new listA good Second World War Italy operations immediate M.M. group of five awarded to Driver J. A. D. Carey, Royal Engineers
Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2121634 Dvr. J. A. D. Carey, R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, the first with edge bruise, otherwise generally good very fine or better (5) £800-900
M.M. London Gazette 27 January 1944. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:
‘On 9 October 1943, during the preparations for the Volturno crossing, Driver Carey was a passenger in a vehicle which was one of several pulled into the side of the road to allow a Scammel to extricate a ditched Sherman. This concentration was suddenly heavily shelled for several minutes and the vehicle immediately behind Driver Carey’s was hit and set on fire. Seeing this, he ran back and assisted a wounded man clear of the area being shelled. Knowing the burning truck to be carrying explosive, Driver Carey returned to the vehicles and drove away a jeep abandoned by its driver, so enabling the truck in which he had been travelling to get clear. Shells were still falling immediately beside the road and under this heavy fire Driver Carey endeavoured to drive clear a Scammel truck immediately behind the burning vehicle. He failed in this, but finding a Sapper severely injured in the ditch, he assisted two other Sappers to carry him clear of the area being shelled and place him on a 15 cwt. truck also abandoned by its driver. He then drove this truck with the injured man to the nearest A.D.S. two miles away.
Showing complete disregard for his own personal safety, in the full knowledge of the likelihood of an explosion, and under heavy shellfire, Driver Carey by great coolness and bravery saved the lives of two of his comrades, and allowed other vehicles to get clear of the area under fire.’
James Andrew D’Arcy Carey was serving in 4th Field Squadron, R.E., at the time of the above deeds, a component of 7 Armoured Division, 10 Corps.
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