Cpl. Charles Arnold Simister MM

Cpl. Charles Arnold Simister MM. Royal Army Medical Corps and No.2 Commando 3 troop. Known to all as "Arnold".

In March 1942, Arnold took part in Operation Chariot, the raid on St Nazaire, being one of the few that made it back. Later he was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry with No.2 Commando at Salerno. He was in action again with Nos 9 and 43 Commando at Anzio and was wounded when his fellow stretcher bearer trod on a land mine and was killed. Arnold was rescued, taken to a nearby hospital ship from where he was transferred to a Military Hospital. Post war he was attached to 43 Commando for a period(ref. CA newsletter No.15). He later attended Coates Hall, a theological college in Edinburgh and in the 50's he was ordained and became Reverend of Christ Church, Bridgeton, a parish in a tough area of Glasgow. It was here that he met and married his wife Cathy. Later in life Arnold suffered badly with his legs, a direct result of the shrapnel that remained in his body since Anzio. In 2006, whilst seriously lame, he was awarded the medal of the French Legion of Honour for his service at Operation Chariot. Arnold died aged 91 in a Nursing Home in Gatehouse O'Fleet on the 9th September 2010. Arnold's wife Cathy died on the 1st May 2012 aged 91.

Citation for the award of the Military Medal to Corporal Simister (from the book Commando Gallantry Awards of WW2):

"This NCO acted as a troop medical orderly to No.3 troop during the actions at Liberatore, Dragone, and Piegolette on 10th, 13th, 16th, and 18th September 1943 respectively, performing his duties with complete disregard for his own personal safety. He was responsible for saving the lives of at least six badly wounded men. At Dragone he attended to wounded under direct mortar and machine gun fire from close range and by his actions and coolness of bearing encouraged the members of the troop to remain steady in their positions under heavy fire" (L.G.13.1.44)