Sergeant DOWLING. Grandad. Love you always, miss you loads X your grandson. Commemorated on a Poppy Cross and wreath at Uttoxeter War Memorial, 8th November 2015
Citation, London Gazette 28th June 1991
Military Medal (M.M.)
24418181 Sergeant Michael James DOWLING,Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Sergeant Dowling was employed as the REME Fitter Sergeant attached to C Squadron, 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers for their deployment on
Operation Granby. On the morning of 26 February 1991, Sergeant Dowling was commanding one of the two M548 logistic load carrying vehicles grouped with C Squadron. The Squadron was deployed in a screen to prevent reinforcement of the Regimental objective (Objective Lead) from the North. At approximately 1100 hours, while the Squadron was in close contact with the enemy, the two M548s came under enemy tank fire. While trying to evade the enemy the rear M548 broke down. Sergeant. Dowling moved quickly to take the crew off the broken down vehicle. Shortly after this his M548 was engaged by enemy tank fire again. While ordering his driver to make best speed to avoid the enemy fire, and with total disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Dowling leant out of the cab of the M548 and engaged the tank with
his personal weapon in order to try to kill the enemy commander who was engaging with his 12.7mm machine gun. Next to him, one of the rescued crewmen, was mortally wounded. Sergeant Dowling continued to engage the enemy tank until he, too, was killed by enemy fire. This was a selfless act of outstanding bravery.
He is at rest in Uttoxeter Cemetery, Staffordshire.
http://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/sgt-dowling-mm-1992.59358/page-2
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/soldiers-died-defying-iraqi-tank-1530814.html
