Award BEM Pte. C.A. Thorne, Army Air Corps (14488224) Palestine Acre Gaol

brithm · Jun 17, 2020

No. 14488224 Private Charles Grantley Thorne, Army Air Corps

British Empire Medal (Military Division)

On 4th May 1947 Private Thorne was a member of a bathing party in ACRE Bay. At about 1620 hours explosions were heard from ACRE Gaol and the HAIFA ACRE road was immediately blocked by a number of the bathing party, Private Thorne amongst them.

A party of armed Jews in a 15-cwt truck approached the road block, fired on it and then swerved off the main road up a track behind an Arab cemetery. Private Thorne and another soldier, acting with great presence of mind and initiative, at once followed the 15-cwt truck, commandeered an Arab car and chased the armed Jews into a cornfield near the cemetery. Regardless of their own personal safety these two soldiers at once opened fire on the hostile party, who left their vehicle and scattered. Their leader, was carrying a Lewis Machine gun was killed and the Lewis Machine Gun captured. Private Thorne captured another thug himself and with the assistance of his comrade succeeded by quick action and courage to round up a further five persons, who had been occupants of the 15-cwt truck and all of whom, by that short time, had been wounded.

Later, Private Thorne was largely instrumental in recapturing three Arabs wbo had just escaped from ACRE Gaol.

There can be no doubt that had Private Thorne not acted with such decision and promptitude and had he not displayed such courage in facing, with only one other, a large armed party of thugs, a number of criminals would have escaped altogether.
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WO 373/70/61

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Award BEM Pte. C.A. Thorne, Army Air Corps (14488224) Palestine Acre Gaol

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Award BEM Pte. C.A. Thorne, Army Air Corps (14488224) Palestine Acre Gaol

brithm Senior Member

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