Private T O
THORBURN - George Medal
In September 1943 the enemy obtained
a direct hit on a dump of petrol on the sea front at Salerno.
A Corporal was severely wounded and two of three other ranks
too badly shaken to take any further part. Private Thorburn
although wounded in the back, commenced salvaging the petrol.
The dump was on fire in several places and petrol tins were
exploding in all directions, being in some cases thrown over
the roof of the six storey building adjacent to the fire.
At great personal risk, in face of the rapidly expanding fire,
and a further salvo of shells, he was able with the assistance
of a few men who came along later to salvage some thousands
of gallons of petrol. He was then evacuated to hospital, where
a fair sized piece of shrapnel was removed from his back,
the wound dresses, and he returned to duty.
Sergeant
H GRANT - George Medal
Private A CATLEY - George Medal
On 8th June, 1944 at about 1200 hours
a bomb hit No 3 SSD and Petrol Dump and immediately set fire
to a large quantity of petrol. A fire of immense proportions
ensued, which spread rapidly to the ammunition dump, this
contained all natures of ammunition and explosives including
a large quantity of 105 mm HE shell and Anti Tank mines. Sergeant
Grant, without orders or encouragement from anyone else immediately
called for volunteers to help localise the fire and salvage
such stores as could be saved. Without hesitation Pte Catley
volunteered. They worked without interruption for 1 and half
hours during which time hundreds of tons of ammunition exploded
about them. Both soldiers showed utter disregard for their
personal safety and displayed courage and devotion to duty
of the highest order. As a result of their efforts approximately
one third of the ammunition and the whole of the Ordnance
Stores were saved - this at a time when every round of ammunition
ashore counted.
Sergeant
C F WAGHORNE - George Medal
At Bircham Newton on the 28th March,
1941, Sergeant Waghorne was in charge of a party of men who
helped to block the entrances and ventilators of a bulk petrol
installation where an explosion had occurred and fire had
started. Although he knew that a 500 pound bomb and six smaller
ones were inside, he personally supervised and later completed
the blocking of the premises. When this was practically completed
and a further explosion had occurred from one of the smaller
bombs, Sergeant Waghorne still maintained his position and
only allowed members of his party to approach him singly whilst
he completed the blocking of the entrance which had been re-opended
by the second explosion. Sergeant Waghorne showed conspicuous
courage and, owing to his effort, not only were thousands
of gallons of aviation petrol saved, but a major disaster
averted.
Captain V
H COHEN - George Medal
In December, 1942 Captain Cohen volunteered
to take charge of a party to fight a fire where a quantity
of smoke generators had caught fire. The generators were surrounded
by a large number of Bangalore torpedoes, beach mines, tins
of detonators and 25 pounder ammunition. He led the party
in their efforts to localise the fire and himself took the
danger side to prevent the fire from affecting the high explosives.
This he succeeded in doing, although several 25 pounder shells
exploded. By his action and constant disregard of personal
danger, until the fire was brought under control and extinguished,
he averted the danger of mines exploding. Had the fire reached
the high explosives, there would have been a higher number
of casualties.
Private C
W McConnell - George Medal
Pte McConnell was a member of a Heavy
Rescue Section which had been working on a number of V-bomb
incidents over a period of six weeks and had rescued about
150 trapped casualties alive during that time. He was an outstanding
member of a first-class rescue section. On several occasions
he worked strenuously and voluntarily for over 12 hours at
a stretch. He worked under massed heavy concrete debris at
the Rex Cinema, Antwerp, on 16th December, 1944. He volunteered
to go down into a cellar in a very dangerous situation at
the Maritime Marine Telephone Exchange incident. At the RAOC
Gas unit incident he volunteered to work in a very confined
space lying on his back under a loose flooring with heaped
debris on top. The whole floor collapsed shortly after the
last casualty was taken out. He inspired others with his zeal
for rescue work and his complete contempt of danger.
Private L
K McGARRIGLE - George Medal
On the 21st February, 1951 a round
of 25 pounder ammunition exploded in a sorting shed at 3 Central
Ammunition Sub-Depot, Hampstead Norris (Bramley), and injured
six soldiers of the Royal Pioneer Corps, one of whom died
later. The blast was so violent that it blew other shells
to pieces, reduced many more to a very dangerous condition,
started a fire and blanketed the area with smoke. Pte L K
McGarrigle, of 260 Company Royal Pioneer Corps was working
in the building at the time of the explosion and, under orders,
ran outside to take cover. Undeterred by the tremendous shock
of the explosion, he returned almost immediately on his own
initiative. Seeing that there was a fire he grasped buckets
from the fire-point and in company with Pte J Gibbons of 28
Bn Royal Army Ordnance Corps, attempted to put it out, knowing
that other shells might exploded at any time and having seen
wounded soldiers running out of the building and having heard
their screams. Through the smoke these two soldiers saw a
severely injured comrade lying on the ground amidst burst
boxes which were covered with blood, live shells scattered
about in a highly dangerous condition, and charred and burning
debris. Without hesitation and at grave personal risk Ptes
McGarrigle and Gibbons went into this highly dangerous area
and pulled out the injured soldier, evacuating him to Pte
Gibbons utility vehicle which stood outside. Pte McGarrigle
displayed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order.
It was largely due to his personal efforts that the fire was
extinguished, and his example was an inspiration to many others
who assisted with the evacuation and first aid of the casualties.
Major F L
DEW - George Medal
On the 19th January 1945 a V2 fell
in the Bulk Petrol Installation at Antwep, causing fires to
five full petrol tanks. On the following day the wind caused
a flashback in one of the burning tanks and flames enveloped
a brick wall from the top of which United States firemen were
operating. Realising that there was a grave risk of the whole
tank exploding, Major Dew, who was in charge of all Fire Fighting
Detachments, guided two firemen to safety and on learning
that a third was still on the wall, rushed through the flames
and found him lying between the wall and the tank with his
flesh and clothes alight. Major Dew picked him up and carried
him to safety through the flames, which had by then greatly
increases. Major Dew did not leave until all the fires were
extinguished on the 21st January, and it was largely due to
his skill, courage and organising ability, that the fires
were extinguished as quickly as they were.
Sergeant
J H MATTHEWS - George Medal
At Savernake, Wiltshire, on 2nd January
1946, during the loading of an ammunition train from lorries,
a major explosion occurred and fire broke out which quickly
spread to another ammunition train alongside, and up till
1630 hrs further major explosions and extensive fires supervened,
involving the death of eight soldiers, injuries to others,
and the total destruction of twenty seven railway wagons and
two lorries containing shells, mines and other explosives,
out of a total of ninety six wagons loaded with ammunition
in the siding. Immediately after the first explosion and for
one and a half hours Sergeant Matthews was promptly on the
sidings with his tender and crew. He initiated the movement
of some wagons threatened by fire, to safety. He personally
uncoupled these wagons (six in number) although the end one
was already on fire. He and his men were only concerned with
rendering full assistance, with no thought of personal danger.
By his leadership, Sergeant Matthews encouraged his crew to
continue fire fighting in what was apparently a forlorn hope,
disregarding entirely the risks involved, in a gallant endeavour
to avoid a great disaster, not desisting until the water supply
became exhausted, and he was finally ordered to withdraw.
Private P
YEATES - George Medal
On the 13th June 1943, three soldiers
were seen to be in difficulty whilst bathing at La Marna.
One of them was able to reach a chain which was formed by
other bathers, but the other two men continued to shout for
help. In face of the strong currents at this beach, which
had already caused several deaths, Private Yeates, who was
not himself a strong swimmer, pluckily plunged into the sea
and brought the nearest man to safety. He then entered the
sea a second time and effected a particularly courageous rescue
of the second man, who by this time was completely exhausted.
There is no doubt that both men would have lost their lives
had it not been for Private Yeates' initiative and disregard
for his own safety. On the 27th June 1943, he again behaved
with gallantry when a man got into difficulties near Bou Fiche.
This man got into the water and was swept one hundred and
fifty yards out to sea very quickly, in spite of his being
a good swimmer. The seas were apparently increasing in strength,
but Private Yeates with two other men after repeated attempts,
got through the inshore breakers and with both courage and
systematic coolness, reached the drowning man and brought
him ashore. All were exhausted when reaching the shore, and
unfortunately the victim did not recover.
Sergeant
J CARRIGAN - George Medal
Sergeant Carrigan volunteered on a
night in May 1941, to take charge of a rescue party on the
site where a heavy bomb had recently exploded in Plumpton
Street, Liverpool. He did most valuable work in rescuing trapped
people. Whilst engaged on this work another bomb fell on the
site. Sergeant Carrigan was badly shaken but carried on and
showed an utter disregard of his personal safety.
Lieutenant
S A GREEN - George Medal
At 2030 hrs on 22nd December 1942,
Lieutenant Green together with a party of military personnel
proceeded to where a British Military Stores train was on
fire near Armandie station. On arrival at the scene of the
fire Lieutenant Green together with three others boarded a
burning wagon containing 100 lb HE bombs and proceeded to
unload them. On completion of this unloading, Lieutenant Green
went to the rear of the train, which was burning fiercely,
and together with two others unloaded two burning wagons containing
HE bombs. Later Lieutenant Green boarded a wagon containing
100 Octane Petrol and was able to save some 200 gallons of
this petrol before being forced to withdraw owing to the terrific
heat.
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