Signalman Douglas Frank Alder
Unit : "K" Section, No.2 Company, 1st Airborne Divisional Signals
Army No. : 6216720
Awards : British Empire Medal
From 13th August 1944 until the return of the first Seaborne lift on 5th October 1944, Signalman Alder was employed as a Despatch Rider. Throughout this period he was almost constantly on his motor cycle as there was an acute shortage of Despatch Riders. He proved himself to be intelligent and reliable far beyond the expectation for his rank. He willingly turned out at all hours and in all weathers, frequently to travel long distances when he had already been in the saddle for many hours on end. He never failed to find his destination, usually in strange country and always without maps, as none were available.
It was largely owing to his unflagging energy as well as shepherding the convoy, that the 4th Brigade seaborne party arrived complete at Nijmegen.
Throughout, he showed himself to be willing and energetic, a skilled rider and possessed of great initiative and common sense, and command of the 4th Brigade party, already difficult owing to a shortage of officers and Despatch Riders, would have been considerable complicated without his able and constant assistance.