Rushden Research Group: Wartime - Wymington soldiers notes WWII

Wymington - Soldiers Notes - WWII

Notes from the Newspapers
In date order

Rushden Echo & Argus, 6^th November 1942

High Award to Naval Warrant Officer

W/O V Rhind, DSC The Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded to Warrant Officer Victor Pretoria Rhind, R.N., who is the nephew of Mr. and Mrs. A. Stratton, of Wymington, with whom he had been living since he was eight, when his parents died.

Warrant Officer Rhind joined the Royal Navy in 1917, and when the last war came to an end he decided to continue service as he liked the life very much.

He was recently due for retirement, but has signed on for further service owing to the war.

He has travelled all over the world, and has been a Warrant Officer since October 1934. He is 42 years of age and has been mentioned in dispatches.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 23^rd March 1945

Ignored Three Leg Wounds

Details are now available of the brave act for which, as reported earlier, L/Sergt. Francis Ralph Garon, R.A.S.C., of 172, Rushden-road, Wymington, has been awarded the Military Medal.

The citation states: On September 26^th 1944, an anti-personnel bomb fell in the centre of a platoon location in the Nijmegen area and shrapnel from it killed one and injured three personnel, including Sergeant Garon.

This N.C.O. received three shrapnel wounds in his leg, but he completely disregarded his own injuries and although further enemy action was imminent, he immediately supervised the transport of the other injured personnel to the nearest medical unit. Then with great determination and courage he continued with his normal duties and refused to stop for medical aid until ordered to do so by his platoon officer.

Although he was obviously suffering great pain on the following morning, he refused to be admitted to a nearby casualty clearing station until he once again received definite orders from this platoon officer to do so.

Twenty-nine, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Garon, of St Barnabas-street, Wellingborough, Sergeant Garon is married and joined the Army in 1940. He went to France during the week following D-Day.

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