The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

A.N.Other · Joined: 29 Aug 2012 Posts: 46

SCOTTISH RECIPIENTS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL of HONOR.

Craig,Robert,2nd/Lt.,15th Inf.Regt.,3rd Inf.DIV.,U.S.Army,KIA,nr.Favoratta,Sicily,11/07/1943.
b.07/06/1919 at 23 Clydesdale St.,New Stevenston,f.William Francis(iron worker),m.Jane MS Montgomery.
brd.,Toledo Memorial Park,6382 Monroe St.,Sylvania,Lucas Co.,Ohio.gr.ref.Sect.36.Lot 188.gr.5.

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to

*CRAIG,ROBERT

Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. Place
and date: Near Favoratta,Sicily, 11 July 1943. Entered service at: Toledo,Ohio. Birth: Scotland.
G.O. No: 41, 25 May 1944.

Citation :
For conspicious gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, on
11 July 1943 at Favoratta,Sicily.2d Lt. Craig voluntarily undertook the perilous task of locating
and destroying a hidden enemy machinrgun which had halted the advance of his company.
Attempts by 3 other officers to locate the weapon had resulted in failure, with each officer
receiving wounds. 2d Lt. Craig located the gun and snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of
the hostile position before being discovered. Charging headlong into the furious automatic fire, he
reached the gun, stood over it, and killed the 3 crew members with his carbine. With this obstacle
removed, his company continued its advance.Shortly thereafter while advancing down the forward
slope of a ridge, 2d Lt. Craig and his platoon, in a position devoid of cover and concealment,
encountered the fire of approximately 100 enemy soldiers. Electing to sacrifice himself so that his
platoon might carry on the battle, he ordered his men to withdraw to the coverof the crest while
he drew the enemy fire to himself. With no hope of survival, he charged toward the enemy until he
was within 25 yards of them.Assuming a kneeling position, he killed 5 and wounded 3 enemy
soldiers. While the hostile force concentrated fire on him, his platoon reached the cover of the
crest. 2d Lt.Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they
drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.

Mathies,Archibald,Sgt.,510th Bomber Sqdn.,351st Bmbr.Grp.,KIA,over Europe(Air Mission),20/02/1944.
Real Name,Archibald Hamilton, stepfather William James Mathies.
b.03/06/1918 at New St.,Stonehouse,Lanarkshire,f.William Hamilton(coal miner),m.Mary MS Scott.
brd.,Finleyville Cemetery,Washington Co.,Pennsylvania.gr.ref.Blk.8,Lot 3.Sect.C.

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to

*MATHIES,ARCHIBALD

Rank and Organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber
Group. Place and Date: Over Europe, 20 February 1944. Entered Service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born:
3 June 1918, Scotland. G.O. No.: 52, 22 June 1944.

Citation:
For conspicious gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action
against the enemy in connection with a bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe on 20
February 1944. The aircraft on which Sgt. Mathies was serving as engineer and ball turret gunner
was attacked by a squadron of enemy fighters with the result that the copilot was killed outright,
the pilot wounded and rendered unconscious, the radio operator wounded and the plane severely
damaged. Nevertheless, Sgt. Mathies and other members of the crew managed to right the plane
and fly it back to their home station, where they contacted the control tower and reported the
situation. Sgt.Mathies and the navigator volunteered to attempt to land the plane. Other
members of the crew were ordered to jump, leaving Sgt. Mathies and the navigator aboard. After
observing the distressed aircraft from another plane, Sgt.Mathies' commanding officer decided
the damaged plane could not be landed by the inexperienced crew and ordered them to abandon it
and parachute to safety. Demonstrating unsurpassed courage and heroism, Sgt.Mathies and the
navigator replied that the pilot was still alive but could not be removed and they would not desert
him. They were then told to attempt a landing. After two unsuccessful efforts, the plane crashed
into an open field in a third attempt to land. Sgt. Mathies, the navigator and the wounded pilot
were killed.

PHOTOS of the two above men are available. Go on line and punch in "Toledo
Memorial Park,Ohio" or "Finleyville Cemetery", click on "Find a Grave Toledo
Park Memorial or "Find a Grave Finleyville Cemetery" et Voila!

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 3:09 pm Post subject:

Very brave men. Thanks for sharing this.

You often see Scots who served in Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African forces on our memorials but they rarely record the service of Scots who served in the United States forces in both World Wars.

Sgt Mathies' name was added to the Stonehouse War memorial along with several other names in 2008.

New Stevenston doesn't seem to have a Second World War memorial. Not one that has been recorded on the forum anyway.

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:44 pm Post subject:

Please remember to add the word "List" to the thread title for items like this in the lookups section - as per the guidelines posted: http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3821

I have amended the thread title, please remember this in future, thanks.