British Empire Medal - Signals Recipients

The British Empire Medal has been awarded to the following 57 Signals personnel.^[1]

Name	Award Era	Award Date	Citation
SSgt H.W. Baker	WW2	13 June 1946
L/Sgt P.G. Berlinguette	WW2	15 December 1945
Sgt A.H.H. Bieber	WW2	8 June 1944
A/Cpl T.H. Brogden	WW2	1 January 1945
WO2 N.D. Brooks	WW2	14 June 1945
CQMS W.G. Burkholder	WW2	15 December 1945
A/SSgt D.A. Campbell	WW2	1 January 1945
Sgt R.W. Clark	WW2	2 June 1943
Sigmn W.T. Codlin	WW2	15 December 1945	1. Between December, 1944, and March, 1945, 2nd Canadian Corps Signals constructed two new terminal equipment vehicles at WIJCHEN, in HOLLAND. Suitable lineman-mechanics were not available to do the detailed wiring which entailed the soldering of some 8,000 connections in each vehicle. For this work, Signalman Codlin, a lineman, was put in charge of three lineman-mechanics and five Dutch technicians. He laid out tasks for himself and his assistants, set the pace by his work, and checked each detail as it was completed. In addiiton, he contributed several ingenious solutions to problems which arose as the work proegressed. 2. So thoroughly did Signalman Codlin devote himself to the work that final checks were entirely satisfactory and the vehicles were completed in time to be used during preparations for the crossing of the Rhine. 3. During the entire advance through France, Belgium and Holland, this signalman, though trained only as a lineman, has repeatedly shown as outstanding devotion to duty and a dogged determination to master the complexities of terminal equipment vehicles. His success has done much to shorten interruptions to the corps communications, and to spur his comrades on to greater effort.
Sgt H.C. Cook		3 July 1948	Captain Ross Warrington WILLOUGHBY, MBE, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. For the rescue mission of Anglican missionary Canon J.H. Turner on Baffin Island from 30 September to 20 October 1947. Captain Lionel Guy D’ARTOIS, DSO, GM, Royale 22e Regiment du Canada, was awarded the George Medal, Sergeant Howard Clifford COOK, BEM, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, was awarded the British Empire Medal and, Sergeant William Wallace JUDD, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, was awarded the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.
WO2 L.W. Costen	WW2	13 June 1946
Sgt R.A. Craft	WW2	2 June 1943
Sgt R.A. Cribbs	WW2	13 June 1946
L/Sgt M.J.O. Drolet	WW2	15 December 1945
Sigmn W.L. Earle	WW2	17 March 1944
Cpl G.T. Fox	WW2	15 December 1945
L/Sgt K.G. Gilmore	WW2	15 December 1945
A/SSgt J.C. Gourlay	WW2	13 June 1946
A/CQMS P.I. Grant	WW2	1 January 1945
WO2 S.A. Hall	WW2	13 June 1946
Sgt F.G. Harrington	WW2	15 December 1945
WO1 J.W. Hughes	WW2	1 January 1946
L/Sgt H.A. Huntington	WW2	15 December 1945	This NCO has been a Detachment Sgt of a line section during the operational period on the continent. During the entire period he has shown outstanding leadership, willingness, and resourcefulness. His ability to grasp a situation and take immediate action on his own initiative, is far beyond that demanded or expected of one of his rank. On one occasion, when fire thretened destruction of a considerable amount of transport, his prompt action in extinguishing the fire resulted in severe burns but was successful in saving badly needed transport. During the flooding of the Mass in February 45, Sgt. Huntington worked in water to his waist for several days to save, restore, and establish our line communications across the Mass. His inestimable value as a N.C.O. in this Unit, has not resulted from any isoloted and specific instance, but rather from a continued application to his work and an unfailing sense of responsibility that would be creditable in a soldier of much higher rank than Sgt. Huntington. [First Canadian Army Signals]
Sgt J.F. Kay	WW2	12 July 1945
Sigmn D.G. Keith	WW2	17 March 1944
A/SSgt D. Livingstone	WW2	1 January 1944
LCpl T. Lungul	WW2	18 August 1945
L/Sgt A.G. Luttrell	WW2	1 February 1945
Sgt I.H. MacBeth	WW2	13 September 1945
WO1 G.W.G. McConnell	WW2	1 January 1946
SSgt E. McLean	WW2	1 January 1946
Sgt J.A. Milne	WW2	17 March 1945
Cpl W.L. Moore	WW2	13 September 1945
SSgt W.W. Nattrass	WW2	14 June 1945
A/SSgt I.T. Palmer, MM	WW2	1 January 1944
WO2 P.H. Parker	WW2	1 January 1946
Sgt A. Pavey	WW2	14 June 1945
L/Sgt W.N. Plumb	WW2	15 December 1945
Cpl H.H. Ponting	WW2	15 December 1945
WO2 W.H. Shaw	WW2	2 June 1943
SSgt H. Shirley	WW2	1 January 1946
Sigmn D. Smith	WW2	17 March 1944
Sgt A.R. Squires	WW2	15 June 1946
Sgt J.E. Stanton	WW2	13 September 1945
Sgt C.M. Stephenson	WW2	12 August 1944
L/Sgt A.L. Strachan	WW2	15 December 1945	Lance Sergeant Angus Leonard Strachan has served continuously with “L” Section 1 Canadian Infantry Divisional Signals since the landing in Sicily on 1943. He has been through every action either as Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of the Wireless detachment of “L” Section at the Royal 22e Regiment or at a Signal Centre in the forward area. Throughout this period he has proven himself to be a most capable and reliable Signal Non-Commissioned Officer. At short notice he has frequently taken over wireless detachments, line crews and signal offices and has always set an example of steadfastness and endurance under the most trying conditions. On numerous occasions his versatility and technical skill have ensured the provision and maintenance of vital communications. In February 1945 Lance Sergeant Strachan was given the task of installing and maintaining propaganda broadcasting equipment at the Senio River in Italy. This involved taking heavy loudspeakers to within a hundred yards of the river and installing and maintaining the lines to them throughout the broadcasts which were punctuated by heavy German shell firing and mortaring. When 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade pushed out of the Ijssel River bridgehead April 1945, Sergeant Strachan as a wireless operator, successfully maintained his wireless links through a particularly trying period, by constantly servicing and visiting his out-stations. By this action he was able to maintain vital communications through the critical stages of the battle. The excellence of Lance Sergeant Strachan’s work and his constant devotion to duty throughout the past months have won him the esteem and confidence of all ranks with whom he has come in contact. [1 Canadian Infrantry Divisional Signals]
Cpl D.L. Taylor	WW2	15 December 1945	Cpl Taylor is a wireless operator, and as such carries the responsibility of operating the wireless net in this unit. His ability to transmit traffic over the air during periods of heavy interference when other operators have failed to get through has been a driving incentive for increased endeavour to all his men. This ready willingness and cheerful execution of orders given by the officers and men of this HQ for whom he works has earned the confidence and admiration of all. To his excellent technical ability as an operator he combines outstanding ability on the switchboard. His cheerful and efficient manner of handling the telephone exchange has been commended by many out-side sources reflecting credit on this unit. Beyond this his work throughout the entire campaign has been exceptional. In cases when communication by line has been deemed advisable, although line work is beyond his sphere of duty he has, with inadequate eqpt and untrained pers, laid out and maintained lines under most difficult conditions. On 28 Apr 45 2 Cdn C Tps Engrs built with a Bailey Pontoon Br across the Leda River at LEER. Communication between the building site and the br site, a distance of 5 miles, was of vital importance to the completion of the br. This was to be by line. When the tps that were to cross the br is support of the assault unit began to mass for the crossing, the line was cut by tanks, half-tracks, and caterpillars al-most continually. Cpl Taylor, with no training as a lineman, and with the help of the only available man, the section electrician, also inexperienced in line work, kept this line in operation. Patrolling the line on foot, through the driving rain and the complete blackness he was able to keep open this vital speech channel. The line had to be spliced in several places where it had been cut by armoured vehs and at one time in the early hours of the morning over a mile of complete new line had to be laid. He knew that relief pers could not be supplied and that the maint of the line meant the speedy completion of the br and support to our forces on the opposite bank. He neither asked for rest not flagged in his efforts till his jobs was done and sufficient bridging had been called up to complete the br. [HQ RCE 2 Canadian Corps Signal Section, 2 Corps Signals]
Sgt S.J. Tellery, MM	WW2	13 September 1945
Sgt A.E. Thompson	Korea	3 October 1953	Sergeant Thompson served as Signals Troop Non-Commissioned Officer with 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, during his service in Korea and has displayed outstanding ability and devotion to duty throughout this period. He has shown coolness in the supervision of line detachments under fire and displayed great presence of mind under difficult circumstances. At 1535 hours on 25 March 1953, Signalman Wagstaff, Royal Signals, strayed into a minefield in the vicinity of 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, and was immediately wounded as the result of a mine explosion. One of the gunners of 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, heard the explosion, and knowing it to be that of a mine, went off to investigate. He found Signalman Wagstaff lying wounded in the minefield, and being unable to deal with the situation himself, returned to Regimental Headquarters and reported the casualty to Sergeant Thompson. This Non-Commissioned Officer ran to the scene and found Signalman Wagstaff lying in the minefield calling for assistance. Sergeant Thompson then carefully followed the regimental drill for removing a wounded man from a minefield. Using a short knife, he made his way to the wounded man, prodding for mines and laying a length of signal cable behind him to mark a safe route for the Medical Officer who had also been called. On his way to the casualty, Sergeant Thompson lifted two mines from his path. On reaching the wounded man, Sergeant Thompson calmly cleared the ground all round him, ensuring that he could be moved and attended to in safety. Only when he was confident that it was perfectly safe did he allow the Medical Officer and the stretcher bearer to follow him into the minefield. The casualty was then treated by the Medical Officer and safely evacuated from the minefield. There is no doubt that the life of a young British soldier was saved by Sergeant Thompson's deed. His actions, throughout, displayed courage, unselfishness and presence of mind and a complete disregard for his own safety.
Cpl J.C. Turton	WW2	15 December 1945
Cpl B. Walker		2002
Sgt J.C. Ward-Moran	WW2	1 January 1944
SSgt F.M. Weston	WW2	13 June 1946
WO2 R.A.S. White	WW2	13 June 1946
Sgt J.W. Willis	WW2	1 February 1945
SSgt J. Wilson	WW2	14 June 1945
A/Sgt W. Wilson	WW2	1 January 1943