Captain Francis Albert Lowe
Unit : 6th (Airborne) Divisional Ordnance Field Park, RAOC
Army No. : 249978
Awards : Military Cross.
Captain Lowe was Second-in-Command of the 6th (Airborne) Divisional Ordnance Field Park, but led the detachment which accompanied the 6th Airborne Division to Normandy. His citation reads:
For gallantry of the highest order in that during the night 21st/22nd June 1944 whilst under continuous enemy shell fire he, with total disregard for his own safety and in the interest of his men resting nearby, he rendered an ammunition stack (part of the divisional ammunition dump) safe by removing with his bare hands an incendiary bomb from the stack which had already received a direct hit from an enemy shell.
2½ hours later the enemy resumed shelling and set fire to more ammunition stacks. Captain Lowe evacuated all his men to safety and as soon as the shelling had ceased he reentered the ammunition dump with his men and by his able and exemplary conduct was able to safe his entire stack of vital weapons, wireless sets, and other Ordnance Stores from destruction. During the whole of this period, approximately five hours, ammunition was exploded all around him and his men, yet by his determination and skilful direction he was entirely successful in carrying out this difficult task without causing any of his men to be injured.