A Normandy British Empire Medal group for Gallantry to Pte Logan Monmouthshire Regiment

GVI British Empire Medal, correctly engraved 14549968 Pte Joseph Logan

1939/45 Star

France and Germany Star

War Medal

Swing mounted as worn.

Condition GVF

Joseph Logan was a native of Cheshire. During the Second World War he served with the Monmouthshire Regiment. He was awarded the British Empire Medal for gallant conduct; the award was gazetted on the 1^st of January 1945. The citation is as follows;

‘ On the 18^th August, 1944, during the crossing of the River Orne at Putagnes, Private Logan volunteered to help in the erecting of the guide ropes across the river under hazardous circumstances during darkness.

The first volunteer was drowned in his attempt. The second volunteer for this rope got into difficulties in the water. Private Logan immediately jumped into the river and swam half way across to rescue his comrade, He succeeded in safely bringing him back to the near bank and undoubtedly was responsible for saving his comrade’s life.

The enemy had in fact just withdrawn from this area, and so the crossing was not made under fire. Nevertheless, the darkness and lack of a sufficiently detailed reconnaissance made this an extremely hazardous operation and Private Logan’s action at such a critical time did much to raise the morale of the crossing party, and so was instrumental in achieving the crossing, on which so much depended’