Craftsman Archer served with 7 Canadian Light Recovery Section, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during its entire stay in Holland. During the time that Walcheren Island was being taken he was sent on 27 October 1944 to Breskins in charge of a D-8 Caterpillar tractor. His work was to pull from the water DUCKS and other amphibious vehicles, which were returning from the attack on the island. In many cases these vehicles were damaged and loaded with casualties, civilian, Allied and German. He gave every assistance possible to casualties. His D-8 tractor weighs 19 tons and had to be operated with great skill on a rotten wooden dock on a soft sand beach. During his two weeks at this place everyone was under machine gun and artillery fire. Dive bombing was quite frequent in particular on the beach. Craftsman Archer did an excellent job on this mission. Craftsman Archer was co-driver of a Tank Transporter at the tip of the big push below Nijmegen at Gennep on 11 February 1945. A Water Buffalo was picked up by his transporter at Nijmegen along with eleven other transporters with similar loads. They were transported to a spot between Mook and Gennep and unloaded. The transporters proceeded down the road, turned around and came back. As they approached a bridge they were in an open spot 500 yards from the Germans. They were forced to stop because the Buffaloes they had unloaded were advancing over the bridge and going into battle. The Germans opened up on the transporters with mortars. A truck in front of his was knocked out. Craftsman Archer and his partner stayed with the transporter for 20 minutes until the road was clear and then drove to safety. One transporter driver was killed and two wounded. Craftsman Archer received a slight cut on his left shoulder from shrapnel; he showed great courage in remaining with his vehicle and getting it safely away.

(C1330) Supplement to the London Gazette of 19 February 1946, No. 37476, page 1057, and Canada Gazette dated 22 December 1945 and CARO/6291 dated 23 December 1945.

Corporal Pearson is a member of the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer 75 Light Aid Detachment and has been attached to 21 Canadian Armoured Regiment since the landing of the regiment on the beaches of Normandy and through the battles in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Throughout this time, Corporal Pearson performed his job as welder in the detachment to such a high degree of proficiency that he travelled at times at the very rear of the fighting tanks rendering valuable assistance at the moment when it was absolutely essential that every vehicle and gun be kept in action. On 25 October 1944, near Wouwsche Plantage, the command tank of the regiment developed trouble requiring a welding job to be done immediately or the tank to be removed from the battlefield. It was vitally important that his command tank remain in action. The regiment was holding firm on an exposed left flank but accurate shelling and anti-tank fire had already eliminated one complete squadron. Realizing the necessity of his work and fully aware of the danger that faced him, Corporal Pearson drove his soft-skinned welding truck forward to the command tank. Although enemy shelling was heavy, Corporal Pearson, with utter disregard for his personal safety, completed the welding job on the command vehicle. This task took almost two hours but when the regiment moved forward into action Corporal Pearson had the command tank ready for action despite the difficulties under which he had laboured. This is but one of the many instances when Corporal Pearson showed a devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety that enabled the necessary vehicles and weapons to be available for action against the enemy. His work, whether in the workshops or under fire, has always been of the highest calibre. The difficulties under which he was required to work and the calm, cool efficient manner in which he carried out these duties was a source of inspiration to all members of the regiment.

(G14119) Supplement to the London Gazette of 19 February 1946, No. 37476, page 1057, and Canada Gazette dated 22 December 1945 and CARO/6291 dated 23 December 1945.

Received Bronze Cross (Netherlands) for service in the Netherlands Army from 1942 to 1945. Written up in RCEME Quarterly, October 1951. Photo is probable but not confirmed.