On 9th March 1945, 1 Platoon of 554 Field Company, Royal Engineers, was clearing a route through Alpon. Under command was a D-7 Armoured Bulldozer driven by Sapper Ray, F. and Sapper MacHardy, L. Sapper Ray took over the driving of this machine in the middle of a heavy concentration of enemy shelling and continued to work it in the face of small arms, mortar and shell fire and filled in a vital crater to allow a bridge-building tank to get through, thus ensuring the success and consolidation of a difficult battle. The enemy self-propelled guns had been active in the area and the supporting tanks would not follow the leading infantry on this account. Not only did the bulldozer driver follow them but he was right up with the leading platoon. Sapper Ray continued in support, following the infantry right up and cleared all the roads to the Forward Defended Localities. His work during this period was the main cause of the success of the consolidation in the capture of this village, the key to the Rhine.
NOTE: The recommendation for this award was accompanied by an affidavit, dated 15 March 1945 at "B.L.A." by Major J. Stuart Dallas, second-in-command, 4/5 Battalion, RSF (Royal Scots Fusiliers). Note the date given.
On 8th March this Battalion were ordered to capture Alpon and included in the orders was that Royal Engineer parties would clear the road and open the man axis behind our "C" Company who were actually clearing the houses along the main axis.
This house clearing proved to be a very slow business as the Company came under vert accurate small arms and mortar fire when they moved about in the open, but the driver of the Royal Engineer bulldozer came up and cleared the road working not behind the infantry but right up alongside the leading platoon.
This heavy and noisy vehicle drew a considerable amount of fire but the driver carried on without hesitation, clearing the road which was blocked by felled trees and other obstacles. I myself witnessed this when visiting the forward troops and consider without knowing details of the orders he received from the Royal Engineer officer that any man working so far forward with such a vehicle in such conditions was displaying the highest degree of courage and devotion to duty.
I may say that the enemy self-propelled guns had been active in the area and the supporting tanks would not follow the leading infantry on this account. Not only did the bulldozer driver follow hem but he was right up with the leading platoon.
I am sure that it was largely due to his efforts that the main axis was cleared so quickly and the bridge built over the crater on the stream bridge.
I consider that the whole case should be investigated by the Royal Engineer officer under whose command this driver was working with a view to recommending him for an award.