Charles Alfred Duncan
Encyclopedia
Private Charles Alfred Duncan (1920–1943) was a private in the Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom) who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
.
Private Duncan was born in Bexhill-on-Sea
in 1920. He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th Battalion
of the Parachute Regiment. On the 10th of July 1943 in M'Saken in Tunisia
his squad had been removing the fuses from their grenades in a confined area after the postponement of a parachute operation in Sicily when a live device was dropped on the ground. Duncan retrieved it, found the pin was out and the fuse burning and dropped on the grenade to shield his fellows from the inevitable blast. Duncan was posthumously awarded the George Cross
for the self sacrifice he showed by throwing himself on a grenade which had fallen among his comrades . Notice of his award appeared in the London Gazette
of the 9th of November 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery in Enfidaville, Tunisia. His medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot
in 1972.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
.
Private Duncan was born in Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
in 1920. He was a member of the Signal Platoon in the 4th Battalion
4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
The 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a Territorial Army unit of the British Army. It is based across the U.K. Originally the Battalion covered the North of England with its Headquarters located in Pudsey, West Yorkshire...
of the Parachute Regiment. On the 10th of July 1943 in M'Saken in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
his squad had been removing the fuses from their grenades in a confined area after the postponement of a parachute operation in Sicily when a live device was dropped on the ground. Duncan retrieved it, found the pin was out and the fuse burning and dropped on the grenade to shield his fellows from the inevitable blast. Duncan was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the self sacrifice he showed by throwing himself on a grenade which had fallen among his comrades . Notice of his award appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of the 9th of November 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery in Enfidaville, Tunisia. His medal was presented to the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in 1972.