| Surname: | Telford |
| Initials: | W |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 7690644 |
| Notes: | CMP. From Ballymena Co Antrim. Enlisted in CMP. War Diary 2 Div Pro Coy, WO 172/6962. 26/5/45 L/Cpl Telford CMP reports with witnessing and airplane crash in the vicinity of Ishapore and was successful in extracting one of the crew. (Awarded BEM). |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | British Empire Medal (London Gazette: 37236 Page: 4273 Aug. 24, 1945) |
| Citation: | India. Citation for BEM: At Barrackpore on 26th May, 1945, this NCO was riding as a passenger in a Jeep when an American bomber crashed near the road and immediately caught fire. Lance-Corporal Telford at once ordered his driver to make for the scene of the accident, leaped out of the vehicle and regardless of personal danger ran straight to the aircraft, which by this time was burning fiercely, He located two of the crew, both severley injured in the nose of the plane and succeeded in picking one of them up and carrying him clear of the plane. The airman unfortunately later died of his injuries. Lance Corporal Telford then attempted to reach the second man, but as he approached the plane for the second time an explosion in the aircraft scattered blazing petrol over a wide area and made his task impossible. National Archive WO 373/69 Pt.1.26 May 1945 L/Cpl Telford CMP reports witnessing air plane crash in vicinity of Ishapore. Success in extracating one of the crew. Unit War Diary WO 172/6962. |