Lieutenant William David Grayson of the Regina Rifles showed high qualities of leadership and bravery on at least three occasions. While entering a block of houses in Courseulles, an enemy light machine-gun crew made a dash with their weapon from the house behind the sea wall towards their slit trenches. Lieutenant Grayson dashed over, armed only with a Colt automatic pistol and forced the surrender of the gun crew, sending them back as prisoners. Later the same morning, he led three men from the safety of a block of houses into a very large pill box from which the company had been subjected to heavy machine-gun fire, cleared it out and captured at least ten prisoners from this tunnel position.
On the same day, he led five men to clean up a large tunnel along a river bank from which twenty-five prisoners were taken and numerous others killed. These are only the mere outstanding examples of this officer's bravery and disregard for his own safety throughout the day. He was very highly recommended for an award.
For this action, he was awarded the Military Cross