Medal of Bravery

The Dieppe Raid

Medal of Bravery

Transcript

As things got worse, I turned out to be, I discovered I was about the only one in communication forward to the battalion and back to the force headquarters. When force headquarters finally decided that they are going to send the boats in to take out whatever troops could come out because they were so badly hurt that I heard them, I heard them give the order to come out for 10 o’clock. I gave the order to the Essex Scottish. The RHLI, and the Fusiliers de Montreal but I couldn’t give the order to the Royal Regiment. There was no communication with them. But I heard force headquarters trying to get in touch with both the South Saskatchewan Regiment and the Cameron’s of Winnipeg who were on the right flank but they couldn’t communicate with them. And I called Control which is the headquarters and I said, “Can I get off the air, I have an overlapping frequency on my set, maybe I can contact them and give them the order.” They said, “No you are the only one we have in communication. We don’t want to lose you.” I said, “I promise you I will be back within two minutes.” So they said okay in that case you can do it. I got off the air and tried to search with an eighteen set at the other end. The signal was very, very faint and I could barely hear it through all that noise and pounding of the guns and everything else but finally I got both units, gave them the order and got a reply that they said they had got it and came back on the air and I was back on the air in about thirty seconds. We didn’t have any motor or rudder and we were towed back by the navy, Royal Navy, on both sides from the beach and all the way to England. When I got to England I was debriefed by the Intelligence people and the first thing they said to me, “What you did saved at least a hundred lives.” So I felt very good about that. And on the 60th Anniversary I met two guys who had heard that order that I gave and they acknowledged that they had heard it and got out.

Description

Mr. Hart shares a very proud moment where he earned the Military Medal for Bravery due to his actions that would save the lives of hundred of troops.

David Hart

Mr. Hart was born in Montreal, Quebec on July 8, 1917. One of seven boys, Mr. Hart joined the army reserves and high school cadets later graduating from college as an accountant. Joining with the Fourth Divisional Signals in 1937, he then joined active service August 1939. Mr. Hart continued on with his service as a signalman with the Royal Canadian Corps Second Divisional Signals taking part in The Dieppe Raid as a sergeant. For his part in this historical event, Mr. Hart received the Military Medal for bravery, awarded to him by His Majesty King George VI at Buckingham Palace. Upon returning to Canada, Mr. Hart continued on with his accounting career. Having great pride for his service, Mr. Hart has returned to Dieppe six times and with this being the 75th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid, along with his wife and son, he will be joining the Canadian delegation in recognition of this commemorative event. At 100 years of age, Mr. Hart continues to enjoy life with his wife of 99 years of age, still residing in their own home. Mr. Hart continues to promote the importance of the Dieppe Raid so that Canadians will truly understand the sacrifice that was given during this battle. He and his wife now reside in Montreal, Quebec.

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