Sergeant Edward Ivan Garratt
Unit : 1st Battalion The Glider Pilot Regiment
Army No. : 2592073
Awards : Distinguished Conduct Medal
Sergeant Garratt flew as Second Pilot in a Waco CG HA glider on the night 9/10th July 1943 from Sousse to Sicily. The glider landed in the correct place but before coming to rest struck violently against some object on the ground smashing the nose of the aircraft and trapping Sergeant Moore the 1st Pilot whose ankle was broken. One of the passengers was also trapped. The force of the impact detonated some ammunition and as the glider was being abandoned Sergeant Garratt saw that his first Pilot and the injured passengers were unable to get out. He at once ran back to the aircraft and despite the exploding ammunition, he succeeded in releasing these men, after three attempts. Just as he was succeeding in dragging the injured clear, Sergeant Garratt's right forearm was almost completely blown away, he however with complete disregard for himself completed the rescue, and was himself assisted to safety by his 1st Pilot, who was himself injured. It was 36 hours before Sergeant Garratt had any food, and two days before his shattered arm was eventually amputated. During the whole of this period Sergeant Garratt continued to behave with great fortitude, and throughout showed the highest sense of duty. The whole glider crew were unanimous in praise of Sergeant Garratt's gallantry.