BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY TO CPL STOCKFORD DLI

BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY TO CPL STOCKFORD DLI Correctly engraved 144454206 Cpls Desmond V Stockford Condition GVF. Desmond Victor Stockford was awarded the British Empire Medal, it was announced in the London Gazette on 14th November 1947. The original citation is as follows; Date of incident; 21st April 1947. Place: Natsin 'On 21st April, 1947, during a dawn attack on the village of Natsin. Corporal Stockford was forward man of his section covering the Northern exits of the village when engaged on anti - dacoit operations. While in that position six armed dacoits ran out of the village. He called on them to stop and immediately came under rifle fire from these dacoits. Two Burmese children were hit by these bullets - one dying later. Corporal Stockford, armed only with a sten gun, with complete disregard for personal safety, doubled forward by himself and engaged the dacoits. He killed one dacoit, the reminder escaping. By his own personal bravery in doubling forward over open and bullet swept ground he was able to disperse this band on dacoits and by doing so saved the probable loss of further civilian life and the life of his own section.'