Footnotes

• M.B.E. London Gazette 15.6.1985.
  
  Major Warde joined the Army with a War Commission in 1941 and served with the Royal Engineers until 1959. He won a MC in the assault on Le Havre in 1944 and a bar to the MC in the follow up from the Rhine crossing in 1945. His service after the war included tours at the Royal Military Academy, Staff College and Ministry of Defence and concluded with retirement in 1959.
  
  Since 1971 Major Warde has been employed with the Territorial Army as a Permanent Staff Administrative Officer, taking his present post with 39 Signal Regiment in 1974. To this appointment he has contributed skill, knowledge and judgement well beyond that usually found and he is a reference point for other units and departments on procedures and contacts. He has contributed considerably more than his part to the smooth running and social life to the Regiment for the whole of his tour and his influence and interests extend well into the City of London as well as the Ministry of Defence and Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve Associations.
  
  The Regiment's links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners including social and welfare activities, have been dependent on his initiative and many soldiers are in his debt for his sponsorship. He has been the treasurer of the Warrant Officer's and Sergeant's Mess and has guided them through many social activities to the considerable benefit of the Regiment. Equally the Officer's Mess has received spontaneous support out of duty hours on which it is dependent for smooth running and continuity. Due to the spread of the Regiment from Tunbridge Wells to Dundee he has had to extend his activity as the Senior Administrative Officer to Squadron Supervision in most aspects of voluntary as well as duty tasks. Finally it is as the Commanding Officer's guide in matters outside the routine administration and manning of the unit that Major Warde has excelled in application of judgement and experience. His combination of knowledge and spontaneity will be sadly missed and he is strongly recommended for an award.
  
  M.C. London Gazette 21.12.1944.
  
  An Immediate award for 42 Assault Regiment R.E.
  
  This officer commanded his Tp during the Op starting 10 Sep for the capture of Le Havre with conspicuous gallantry and great initiative. He got through the initial minefield with only one other AVRE besides his own but he immediately headed it full speed for the nearest enemy strongpoint, which was holding up the Inf. An A/tk gun was silenced before it could open fire, as were several machine guns. Immediately after this Capt Warde led his two AVRE and one Crocodile to another enemy post which was silenced by petard fire and flame. On the third and last day of this action Capt Warde with his Tp in conjunction with an Inf Coy carried out a most successful operation round the edge of the plateau on the SE outskirts of Le Havre, which resulted, after liberal use of petard bombs, in the position surrendering. During this Op the AVRE were up to 200 yds ahead of the Inf and had no support from other guns or tks. it was the speed with which this Op was concluded that enabled other fmns to advance into the town.
  
  Bar to the M.C. London Gazette 11.10.1945.
  
  An Immdeiate award for 617 Assault Squadron R.E.
  
  On the night 16/17 April 1945, 617 Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, were harboured about 2 miles East of Otterloo. Considerable enemy activity had been heard during the night and at 06.15 hours 17 April, it was reported that the enemy had attacked Otterloo with a force composed of elements of 4 battalions and had succeeded in penetrating the defences, were fighting in the midst of other units in the village and were working up the road towards 617 Squadron harbour. Captain Warde, with his troop of 6 AVREs, was immediately despatched with orders to stop the enemy and give what help he could in the village. he led his troop toward the village and met the enemy advancing up the road within 800 yards of his unit lines. Without hesitation his troop rushed the enemy force, firing Petard and Besa and killing all Germans in sight. He then continued into the village and along the Apeldoorn road, engaging enemy infantry en-route and relieved the over-run field battery and "B" Company Irish Regiment of Canada, whose position was then very serious. He then made contact with Commanding Officer of the Irish Regiment and in co-operation with them and using the full fire power of the troop they were able to clear the enemy from the village. Before and throughout the operation, Captain Warde had no information about the enemy or the general situation. His coolness and the very prompt action he took on his own initiative, this despite the fact that the AVRE tank has no weapon that can engage enemy tanks, proved a decisive factor in relieving the serious situation that had beset the units in Otterloo. Throughout he displayed outstanding gallantry and led and handled his troop with remarkable skill, dash and efficiency. His own tank was hit three times by shell fire or panzerfaust without serious damage. During this sharp action that lasted approximately one hour, his troop accounted for an estimated total of 75 to 100 Germans killed or wounded, and played an important part in routing the enemy.
  
  The lot includes a variety of documents and correspondence as follows: Warrant for the MBE (framed). Copy of the London Gazette showing MBE award as well as copies of the Gazette for the MC and the Bar to the MC. Buckingham Palace slip for the MC, assorted letters of congratulation and newspaper cuttings. Copies of the Citations for all three awards. Letters from the Ministry of Defence and Buckingham Palace congratulating him on the award of the MBE. Warrant for promotion to Lieutenant dated 29.12.1945. Civil Defence Staff College Course Attendance Certificate, dated 23.2.1962. Huntingdonshire Division Civil Defence Corps Test Certificate dated 7.3.1965. Scroll confirming his attendance in Sir Winston Churchill's Funeral Procession as part of the Civil Defence Services. Copy of the Royal Engineers List November 1961. With 9 assorted folders and books relating to the Royal Engineers.

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Category: Coins / Medals

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