W/Sgt Daniel Lewis Lucas DCM
British Army 105th Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
from:Sidmouth
Dan Lucas DCM served with the 105th Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Distinguished Conduct Medal 117663 W/Sergeant Daniel LewisLucas, Royal Artillery.
At 0400 hrs on the morning of 9th of July at Bexhill R.093255, the enemy launched a strong infantry counter attack and forced our infantry back past the M10 commanded by Sgt Lucas, leaving Sgt Lucas with his M10 and 2 Canadian tanks to face the thrust. Sgt Lucas noticed a German machine gun spraying our troops and promptly engaged it with HE putting it out of action. He then engaged the enemy infantry with his Tommy gun and Browning. As there appeared a danger of being cut off he dismounted under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and cleared the M10 tracks of the splinter cover. He then returned to his post, rallied the infantry, and continued engaging the enemy with Tommy gun and Browning. He noticed a German firing a Bazooka 50 yards off, this Bazooka put out one of the tanks. Sgt Lucas fired HE at it and killed the operator. Meanwhile the surviving Canadians from the tank had baled out. Sgt Lucas again left his M10 under heavy fire and carried one of the wounded Canadians over to his M10 and put him inside. Undoubtedly Sgt Lucas' coolness and handling of his M10 saved a break through and possible occupation of a very important post from which the Germans would have overlooked the axis Rd. Sgt Lucas' M10 was on its own, the other M10 having been set alight previously. He had been continually under Mortar, 88 SP gun fire and stonks for 14 days. The positions of the M10s were overlooked by an enemy OP and the approach under direct observation. The M10 is very vulnerable to infantry attack. Throughout he has shown coolness and by his bearing has set a very good example to his crew.
