Personal Number: 232585 Rank: Lieutenant Name: David Grey WORCESTER, MC Unit Special Air Service Regiment London Gazette : 29 November 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37368/supplement/5789/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: — The Military Cross. Lieutenant David Grey WORCESTER (232585), Special Air Service Regiment, Army Air Corps (Aberystwyth).
Recommendation for Award for Worcester, David Rank: Lieutenant Service No: ... | The National Archives Reference: WO 373/57/533 Name Worcester, David Rank: Lieutenant Service No: 232585 Regiment: 2 Special Air Service Regiment Theatre of Combat or Operation: Repatriated PoWs Award: Military Cross Date of announcement in London Gazette: 29 November 1945 Recommended for DSO Awarded MC 232585 W/Lieutenant David WORCESTER, 2 Special Air Service Regt., S.A.S. Brigade, Airborne Corps On 7th January, 1944, in conjunction with the main landings on the ANZIO beached, small parties of parachutists were dropped behind the enemy lines in ITALY to attack their lines of communication to the front. Lieutenant WORCESTER was in command of a party which was dropped, in heavy snow, in the TERNI - RIETI valley. The party succeeded in derailing a train on the TERNI - RIETI line, cutting telephone wires and severing the electrical supply in the area according to plane. Unfortunately, the ANZIO landings did not succeed as expected and these small parties of parachutists were not overrun by our own troops. Lieutenant WORCESTER there for ?decided to carry out sabotage and guerrilla attacks until his ammunition was exhausted. He divided his remaining 60lbs of explosive into home made 1lb bombs and attacked enemy transport, by throwing the grenades into the backs of trucks, when they were slowed up by the heavy snow. The courage and initiative with which Lieut. WORCESTER inspired his men to press home these attacks resulted in twenty-five enemy vehicles being destroyed by the middle of February. For a period of two months this tiny party of one officer and four men was a constant thorn in the side of the Germans. Lieut WORCESTER demonstrated how much can be accomplished by determined brave men, although they may be completely cut off from their own troops and faced with appalling geographical conditions. Having exhausted all his ammunition and explosive, Lieut WORCESTER split his party into two parts and attempted to exfiltrate through the German front near CASSINO. Unfortunately Lieut WORCESTER's party was surprised in a hut by a German patrol and taken prisoner. In attempting to knock out their guards with a bottle, Lieut WORCESTER was seriously wounded and only repatriated to this country in April 1945. Lieut WORCESTER's indomitable courage, initiative and offensive spirit inspired his men to carry on in the face of tremendous odds.
See also: Operation Maple (Thistledown & Driftwood) SAS - Worcester, David Grey 1595481 Gunner Austin HEHIR, MM, Royal Artillery & SAS: POW, E&E
