Pastor Frank Dyer

 Liz's father Frank Dyer was a faithful missionary and pastor here in northeast Brazil from 1949 to 1987 when he went to be with the Lord. However prior to his service here he served his country valiantly in WW2 and received the DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal from the hand of King George VI for his service in Africa and Italy, especially for his bravery in Italy when the British Army received air cover from the Brazilian air force. We knew Frank had received the medal but we had never seen the official report of how he received it and we certainly didn't know all the heroic details. So it was with immense joy that we thanked Marian Rashleigh for having gone to the Rifle Brigade's museum in Winchester whilst we were in the UK and unearthed, with the help of historians, the original document which I will now relate to you word for word. The capital letters are as they are in the original document.

"FRANK DYER - For gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on TOSSIGNANO 0823.

At 0600 hrs on 14 Dec 44 L/CORPORAL DYER'S Platoon was ordered to seize a house on the southern side of TOSSIGNANO to relieve pressure on C Coy 2 RB being counter-attacked in the Western end of the village. The entry into the house was forced and the platoon established on the ground floor which consisted of only one room.

At first light the enemy counter attacked and the Bren Gunner covering the street was killed. L/CORPORAL DYER immediately manned the Bren gun and was himself hit in the leg almost at once. He refused attention and continued to fire the Bren with such good effect that the attack was temporarily stopped.

Later the house was attacked with bazookas, the ceiling blown in and the room set on fire with petrol so that the platoon was free to withdraw down the hill. L/CORPORAL DYER with his pl comd and Rfn Alldridge covered this withdrawal engaging the enemy at very short range.

Under cover of some rocks at the foot of the hill L/CORPORAL DYER tended 3 wounded men and then on his own initiative crossed 200 yards of open ground under observed MG and mortar fire to get help from the Coy HQ at Pt. 222. Smoke was put down but more men were hit near pt 222 while crossing the open ground. Seeing this L/CORPORAL DYER improvised a red cross flag from a white handkerchief and the blood of a wounded man and repeatedly went forward in the face of heavy MG and Mortar fire each time helping back a wounded man.

Finally as a result of L/CORPORAL DYER'S determined and courageous efforts the enemy recognized the red cross flag and it was possible for stretcher bearers to collect the remaining wounded who would otherwise have spent the day lying in the open exposed to enemy fire. Altogether 12 wounded were brought in, and L/CORPORAL DYER continued for 3 hours to bring in and help tend the wounded.

L/CORPORAL DYER'S gallantry was of the highest order and there is no doubt that by his determination and disregard for himself, he saved the lives of several men of his platoon.

GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE DCM

H. R. Alexander - Field Marshal"

PS: I know that this is a long document but I feel that many will find it interesting. Liz certainly had a father to be proud of and I thank God for having served in EAB/ACEV for 15 years under his leadership. If you write a comment please don't forget to put your name.