Corporal Donald Ward
Unit : "A" Squadron, 6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment
Army No. : 410551
Awards : Military Medal
This NCO landed by glider with a Tetrarch tank near Hamminkeln on 24th March 1945. While moving to his Rendezvous he stopped to assist some paratroopers to tow vehicles out of a ditched glider. In doing so, his tank broke down and became immobile.
For the rest of the day, he kept his tank in action in front of the parachute battalion perimeter. Although under heavy fire and blinded on one side by the crashed glider he kept the enemy at bay. Several attempts to infiltrate were repulsed, Corporal Ward exposing himself repeatedly to site his weapons to the best advantage. His action was of the greatest help to the battalion in maintaining their perimeter intact.
This NCO showed a fine aggressive spirit throughout the day. The value of his resolute refusal to abandon the tank was enhanced by the fact that the Tetrarch is very lightly armoured. His action in sticking to his guns on his own initiative when divorced from his squadron acted as a tonic to all troops in the area.