Lieutenant John Tiernan
Unit : 181 Airlanding Field Ambulance
Army No. : 244779
Awards : Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
First as Regimental Sergeant Major and later as Lieutenant (Quartermaster) of 181 (Air Landing) Field Ambulance he has served in 1st Airborne Division since its formation. He has taken part in airborne operations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and North-West Europe. During the last operation he, on September 24th 1944 near Driel (676757), organised the packing and loading of 1½ tons of medical stores and accompanied them across the River Lek under very heavy fire in an attempt to take them to the Division (map reference area 6776). He remained across the River all day but was forced to retire the following night (September 25th) when the bridgehead was evacuated. On all these operations, particularly the last, he has shown a high sense of duty and his conduct has been an example to all who served with him.