Staff-Sergeant Eric George Stevens
Unit : 16 Parachute Field Ambulance
Army No. : 7373608
Awards : Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal
On the night of July 13th, 1943 in Sicily, Staff Sergeant Stevens dropped five miles away from the Ponte Primsole (Map ref Italy 1/25,000, Catania Sud, Sheet 270 III SW-SE 943675). With four men he was cut off from his officer and the remainder of the stick. He led these men to the bridge where fighting was taking place, set up a medical post and began to collect wounded to it. The party collected many casualties under mortar fire and small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Stevens made contact with the Battalions and with the Field Ambulance and organised the evacuation of casualties from the bridge to the Main Dressing Station. When himself wounded in the head he led in a party of wounded to the Main Dressing Station. It was his initiative in unforeseen circumstances, his leadership and indifference to danger which inspired a few men to carry out the way of a whole section in most difficult conditions.