G.M For Liverpool Raid Rescues
Salvage Corps awards
A Liverpool police-constable's heroic work, which resulted in the rescue of four men in an air raid, has brought him the award of the George Medal "for unselfish and brave efforts which were carried out in the worst possible conditions"
A terrific explosion
He is PC Edward CRANN, aged 46 of Irby Rd, Anfield. He has the Police Medal for twenty years good service, has been four times commended by the Watch Committee and in 1933 was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for diving into the Mersey to rescue a youth.
Constable CRANN was on duty during a heavy raid at night when a large number of incendiaries were dropped, causing fires in several buildings on his beat. He extinguished several fires, and while he was helping members of the Auxiliary Fire Service there was a terrific explosion caused by a very powerful bomb falling in the centre of a fire.
A large building collapsed and became a raging inferno. Though severely shaken by the blast, he realised several A.F.S men had been working close to the building, and found two lying injured and unconscious on the footpath. Assisted by a police sergeant he carried the men to an air raid shelter.
Constable CRANN then found a man buried to his neck in debris. Though there was grave danger from falling timbers and the possibility of walls collapsing, he set to work to release the man, moving the debris with his hands, and carrying the man from whence he was removed to hospital.
Found Injured Driver
Knowing that Driver ROBERTS of the fire brigade had been in the vicinity at the time of the explosion, the constable returned and conducted a thorough search, though the fire was still burning fiercely and walls were collapsing. He stumbled upon Driver ROBERTS lying injured and unconscious, and, obtaining assistance from two A.F.S men he carried him to safety. He showed complete disregard for his own safety and, though in a distressed condition, with his clothes saturated, he remained in the vicinity assisting and directing fire-fighting and rescue operations.
Interviewed yesterday, Constable CRANN said, "There was nothing in it. I am no stranger to bombs, because, after being wounded at Ypres in the last war, I was blown out of a hospital bed by a bomb." Incidentally Constable CRANN was mentioned in despatches in the last war for re-establishing communication lines under fierce enemy fire. "I would go through a barrage of shells any time, but these bombs are a different proposition," he added.
SALVAGE HEROES
Superintendent and his deputy
Superintendent Harry COOKE [who has since died] and Deputy Superintendent Henry COOPER, colleagues for many years in the Liverpool Salvage Corps have been awarded the British Empire Medal. Mr COOKE was in charge of salvage operations on a number of occasions while night bombing and machine-gunning were in progress. He showed the finest qualities of leadership and endurance and, with complete disregard of personal safety, prevented several fires from getting out of control.
Mr COOKE together with Major HODGSON, then newly-appointed Second-Officer of the Salvage Corps, was killed in a recent raid. Women and children of the living quarters were in an air raid shelter and after an explosion, Mr COOPER and others managed to take them to another air raid shelter which was soon endangered by a fire nearby. The women and children were again taken to another shelter, some of them on stretchers.
Prevented Immense Damage
Mr COOPER has been instrumental at much personal risk, in preventing immense damage to vital commodities, and has been in charge of the Salvage Corps operations at serious fires in the dock area. At one fire his prompt action prevented the fire from spreading to valuable merchandise. Though the fire caused much danger to the detachment, Mr COOPER worked for several hours with complete disregard for personal danger, with the result that the fire was brought under control.
Mr COOPER who had just returned from the funeral of Salvage Officer H. A. JONES, killed in a raid, said yesterday that he and Mr COOKE had worked side by side together for more than twenty years. They were both Liverpool men and about the same age 46. Mr COOPER lives at 58 Parkside Drive, West Derby. He served in the last war, and for over four years was in the Centurion under Captain [now Admiral] Sir Roger KEYES. Mr COOKE leaves a widow and five children.
Salvage man John George HODGSON, who has been commended worked at serious fires whilst night bombing was in progress and there was heavy A. A, fire. He managed a turntable escape for one and a half hours until the escape became too hot to be used, and in several other fires showed disregard for his own safety.
Mr Fred SHARP a bachelor living at 6 Selborne St, Liverpool, who also receives the British Empire Medal, is employed in the cleaning department of the Liverpool Post Office, and has constantly been engaged on fire-watching duties. He has tackled many roof fires and his coolness and initiative have helped to prevent flames from spreading.
Liverpool Daily Post June 7th, 1941
Liverpool AFS Men win Empire medals
In a new list of awards for gallantry in air raids, in which for the first time a bar to the British Empire Medal has been won, Liverpool is represented by the award of a George Medal to a police-sergeant and of two British Empire Medals to members of the Auxiliary Fire Service
Sergeant Harold Frederick CLAYDON of "A" Division of the Liverpool Police Force wins the George Medal for his heroism on the night of the 12th of March, when he rescued six persons from the debris of a two-storey tenement in Adlington St, off Hatton Garden. He was told that the occupants had been trapped, relying mostly upon his hands, and using a torch in the darkness he began to tunnel through the debris at great risk to his own life.
Gassed but carried on.
After working for some time he reached two young women, Nellie WALSH and Lissie DOW, whom he brought to safety. Making the hole he had made through the debris more secure by means of pieces of masonry and wood, he proceeded with his tunnelling and reached Mrs FAGERASS, aged 70, who was lying semi-conscious with her left arm fastened in the debris and a piece of wood across her chest. He succeeded in releasing her and despite her weight of sixteen stones, dragged her to safety. By this time Sergeant CLAYDON was suffering from the effects of escaping gas, but after being given a drink of water he continued to tunnel through the debris. Mrs FAGERASS, on recovering consciousness, said fourteen other persons had been sheltering in a small space. After next rescuing a man who had lost consciousness CLAYDON returned to the tunnel and heard a child's voice say, "I am here mister, can you see me?" He found the child lying with a piece of wood across his body. He had to use a saw to cut through wood to rescue the child, and also a man who had been trapped in a chair, which he had to break before he could move him. By means of his tunnel which went twenty feet into the debris, ten of the fourteen people were rescued. Sergeant CLAYDON after working in the tunnel for two hours finally collapsed owing to the effects of gas and had to be removed to hospital.
Sergeant CLAYDON is 37 years old, married, and lives at 28 Agincourt Rd, West Derby. He joined the Liverpool Police Force in 1927 and was promoted sergeant about three years ago.
Alexander CONWAY and Edward HEYES, Liverpool Auxiliary Firemen, receive the British Empire Medal for releasing five women and a child from a wrecked building during a raid in December, a high-explosive bomb wrecked two houses. CONWAY and HEYES clambered into the wreckage, and while one supported a collapsed floor with his back, the other sawed away timber to make his way to the wreckage.
Through this CONWAY crawled, and was instrumental in releasing five women and a small child. On woman who had been embedded up to her neck in debris, was sitting in an armchair and was hysterical. The rescuers had to cut their way through a floor which had been turned on end. CONWAY removed sufficient debris to enable him to use a saw. After cutting away the arms of a chair he succeeded in releasing a woman.
These operations were hampered throughout by the escape of gas from a fractured main and also by the presence of enemy planes from which bombs were dropped in the adjoining streets. Both CONWAY and HEYES are married
Liverpool Daily Post June 14th, 1941
M.B.E for Bootle Fire Chief
Mr James Frederick COLLINS, Chief Officer of Bootle Fire Brigade, who rescued his wife and daughter when his own house was demolished by a bomb, and then returned to duty, receives the M.B.E
Other Merseyside defence workers commended for brave conduct are James William ANDREWS, stretcher-bearer, A.R.P, stretcher party Birkenhead, William ASHWORTH, member volunteer rescue party, Birkenhead, Miss Sarah BOYLE, attendant first-aid post Birkenhead, Walter BUCKLEY, member volunteer rescue party, Birkenhead, George FOGG, member first-aid party, Birkenhead, Doris Zita [Mrs GREAVES] head of rest centre teams W.V.S, Birkenhead, Eric William HUDSON, leader first-aid party Birkenhead, and John JONES, A.R.P, messenger, Birkenhead, Harold Lee MAJOR and Joseph Lee MAJOR, members of the volunteer rescue party, Birkenhead, Dr George Seymour SWANN, Birkenhead and Albert Neville YAPP, member first-aid party Birkenhead.
Rescued own family
Mr COLLINS has been with the Bootle Brigade for 30 years, has had the great responsibility of fire fighting in all the severe raids since the war began, and in the heaviest yet experienced, that during the first week of last month, he returned to the Central Fire Station one night just a few minutes before his own house near the station received a direct hit which completely demolished it. Mr COLLINS who heard the bomb fall, rushed to the house and was able to rescue his wife and daughter, whom he brought out of the wreckage through an emergency door, fortunately unhurt. After seeing that they were uninjured, he at once returned to fire-fighting on which the brigade were continually engaged for several days.
Mr COLLINS was responsible for the local organisation of the A.F.S. He served with the R.A.F in the last war and holds the long service medal of the Professional Fire Brigades Association.
Liverpool Daily Post June 21st, 1941
Mr WHEELER who lives at 5 Etruria St, Garston is the first Garston man to be awarded the coveted decoration.
"High-explosive bombs demolished a house and a woman and child were trapped" says the official announcement of the award. "WHEELER began to remove debris, while a prop was held under a wall to prevent it from falling. The wreckage of the adjoining house was on fire, and there was a serious escape of gas. WHEELER worked his way into a recess formed by the roof rafters. Any false move would have been disastrous, for the rafters and wall would have fallen on him. Smoke was pouring into the recess, but, on his hands and knees with a handkerchief over his mouth he continued working for nearly an hour, and rescued a woman and a little boy.
"On leaving the wreckage he collapsed, but recovered and entered other badly damaged houses to continue rescue work.
When seen by the "Daily Post", Mr WHEELER gave a very modest account of his action, stating that he did not wish to take all the credit. The mother whom he rescued first died soon after admission to hospital, and the boy, aged four years, was dead when recovered. Police-sergeant R. LITTLEDALE assisted him by holding the prop to prevent further debris falling.
Sergeant LITTLEDALE said all the credit must be given to WHEELER for his very gallant work.
-----------
The Times, July 5th 1941
Civilian awards
Bravery during air raids
O.B.E, [Civil], Harold PARTINGTON, Town Clerk and A.R.P, Controller, Bootle
Throughout the period of the air raids Mr PARTINGTON has worked day and night to maintain the affairs of the borough and conduct A.RP, control. During and after every raid the situation has been successfully dealt with by Mr PARTINGTON, on whom falls the responsibility of coordinating all the A.R.P services. In addition he has personally led fire-fighting parties and extinguished incendiary bombs on the roof of the town hall during the heaviest attacks
George Medal
To Thomas FLOOD, Auxiliary Fireman, Liverpool A.F.S, who tunnelled under the debris of a wrecked house and after working for an hour heard a baby crying. He continued and found a child under a perambulator. He obtained food and fed her, and with difficulty he eventually extricated her unharmed. He then heard the cry of another child under the rubble and after tunnelling 7ft, and sawing through an iron cot, he rescued a small boy.
George Medal
To George STEVENS, Wallasey, a woman was trapped in a house extensively damaged by a bomb, the outer walls in danger of collapse. STEVENS regardless of the danger burrowed through the wreckage and found the victim. Despite falling debris and continual enemy action, he persisted in his untiring efforts to rescue her. After working for 2hrs in a very limited space he succeeded, he then continued with further rescue work.
British Empire Medal to Paul CATTERALL, Acting Sub-officer Bolton Fire Brigade, William Albert CLARE, Dairyman, Wallasey, Albert MARSHALL, yard foreman, the Liverpool Gas Company, George WINDSOR, pressureman and Francis McNALLY, assistant-pressureman the Liverpool Gas Company.
---------------
London Gazette Aug 1st 1941
Liverpool Police Officers feat of strength and endurance
A feat of strength and endurance has won George Medals for three Liverpool police officers and a rescue worker. Other Liverpool, Bootle and Cheshire County police officers receive the British Empire Medal
George Medals
Christopher John GARTLAND, police sergeant, Herbert Frederick Collier BAKER police constable, John Edward Willington UREN, police constable, Liverpool police force, Thomas TOLEN, member A.R.P, rescue party, Liverpool
During an air raid a building was demolished by enemy action. Portions of the interior walls collapsed, and the outside wall was leaning dangerously inwards. GARTLAND, BAKER and UREN, accompanied by TOLEN, entered the building and after searching in complete darkness they found a fire-watcher trapped and almost buried under the debris on the ground floor. When some of the wreckage had been removed a large wooden beam, which was carrying the weight of debris of the roof and upper floor, and which was directly over the trapped man, appeared about to collapse. Constable UREN at once got under the beam, supporting it with his shoulder. He remained in this position for a considerable time, during which the other three men worked frantically to free the victim. The weight of the beam became too much for UREN to support, and BAKER took up a position beside him. It was clear that the whole building might collapse at any moment, and the sergeant who is a man of exceptional strength placed his arms around the man's body and with powerful and sustained effort pulled him clear of the debris. Constable BAKER then got away from the beam, but owing to the great weight UREN was unable to move. The sergeant took hold of him and snatched him away. As he did so the upper floor collapsed completely covering the place where the rescuers had been working. During the whole of this time TOLEN had been untiring in his efforts to release the trapped man, entirely regardless of the near danger. Constables UREN and BAKER, by supporting the beam for over an hour, made the rescue possible. Had they collapsed under the severe strain the rescuers and rescued would have been killed.
British Empire Medal
Ernest William POCOCK, police constable, and Frank Douglas WIGGINS, police constable, Cheshire Constabulary
For gallant conduct in attempting to rescue the occupants of an aircraft which crashed and caught fire. These men faced the danger of exploding bombs and ammunition with complete disregard of their personal safety.
Constable WIGGINS is a member of the Cheshire County Police motor patrol. He is a native of Crewe and was employed by the L. M. S, before enlisting in the Coldstream Guards. He has been with the Cheshire police for 11 years. He is married and is 34.
Elymer ANKERS, sergeant Liverpool Fire Brigade
When bombs fell on a railway siding an ammunition train caught fire and the contents of the railway trucks exploded. Sergeant ANKERS took charge of the fire-fighting and rescue work. In attempting to control the fires and remove the ammunition train from the area he showed a complete disregard for his own safety and acted with courage and resource.
Charles Leslie CAIRNS, police constable, Bootle police force.
During an air raid a shelter together with its occupants was blown into the rafters of a house. Under the leadership of Police Constable CAIRNS rescuers climbed to the damaged roof and lowered the victims to the ground. During this time adjacent houses were on fire and bombs dropped near by shaking the roof, which was in a very dangerous condition. The constable fell through on two or three occasions but recovered himself and carried on until the rescue work was completed. It was due to the initiative and energy of Police Constable CAIRNS that the rescues were achieved
Joseph GOLDSON, patrol officer, Liverpool A.F.S.
Throughout enemy air attacks Patrol Officer GOLDSON has displayed outstanding leadership and resource
John Edmund JONES, auxiliary fireman, Liverpool, A.F.S.
During enemy air attacks on Liverpool Auxiliary Fireman, JONES has acted with coolness and courage. On one occasion although he was suffering from an eye injury and the effects of blast, JONES took up a very dangerous position in order to prevent a fire from reaching an air-raid shelter. He maintained his position in spite of the knowledge that an unexploded time-bomb was only a few feet away from him and that he was in danger of being trapped by the fire.
Ernest Sidney LEATHAM, fire-watcher [Assistant Inspector Outdoor Staff] Ministry of Health, Liverpool, William HUNTER, police constable, Liverpool Police Force
During an air-raid Mr LEATHAM, with some colleagues was in a basement shelter when the building above was hit by high-explosive bombs and set alight. Mr LEATHAM managed to release himself and went for help. He directed the firemen so that the trapped men should not be drowned by the water from the hoses. Constable HUNTER dug a way through the debris and located one of the men pinned down by beams. Despite the limited space the constable removed rubble, sawed through the timber and released the casualty
While HUNTER was working Mr LEATHAM was burrowing through to the other victim, but was unable owing to heavy obstructions to reach him unaided. Whilst waiting for help from the rescue party Mr LEATHAM salvaged valuable papers from the offices, and at intervals crawled down the tunnel to the trapped man to reassure him. He was eventually released after 7 hours. Constable HUNTER and Mr LEATHAM worked in considerable danger both from the fire which was raging overhead and from falling masonry.
James TARBUCK, police constable Liverpool Police Force
High-explosive bombs demolished many houses and trapped a number of people. Constable TARBUCK who was off duty, was engaged in extinguishing the incendiary bomb on the roof of a building. He was blown to the ground by the blast of the bomb and injured his left kneecap. Despite his injury he immediately went to the incident and organised a rescue party of volunteers. Under his direction and leadership ten people were rescued alive from the debris. During these operations the district was subjected to a very heavy bombardment.
Commendations
The following are among those who have been brought to notice for brave conduct in civil defence.
George Stanley ALEXANDER, motor driver, Bootle
Leo BROADBRIDGE, messenger, Liverpool Auxiliary Fire Service
Stanley CHALLIS, auxiliary fireman, Bootle Auxiliary Fire Service.
William ROUTLEDGE, foreman burner, Bootle
Miss Muriel Ruth WILLIAMS, A.R.P, warden, Liverpool
---------------
London Gazette Dec 19th 1941
Firemen brave explosions on burning ship
Four Liverpool firemen who strove in spite of falling bombs to save a burning ship alongside Merseyside docks receive awards for their bravery. The ship eventually blew up, killing many people but the men worked on throughout the night For their part in this incident Section Officer John LAPPIN receives the George Medal and Section Officer Noel LANDAU and Auxiliary Firemen Henry HODGE and James ROACH, British Empire Medal to William BROADBENT of the Manchester Civil Defence Rescue Service, and the six commendations of members of that service which are also announced are the result of a fine bit of team work. The story of the incident for which BROADBENT received his medal is told in the official announcement. Eight people out of ten were rescued alive after three tunnels had been made while enemy planes were still active overhead. The six men commended were working in a party under BROADBENT'S leadership
The list follows ;-
George Medal
John LAPPIN, section officer, Liverpool A.F.S, [now National Fire Service]
British Empire Medal
Noel LANDAU, section officer, Henry HODGE, auxiliary fireman, and James ROACH, auxiliary fireman Liverpool A.F.S, [now National Fire Service]
Enemy action caused a serious fire at a dock in which a ship containing a quantity of explosive was berthed. The ships, and large sheds alongside were burning furiously and bombs continued to fall all around. With full knowledge of the tremendous risk involved an A.F.S. crew, under the leadership of Section Officer LAPPIN, fought the shed fires in a gallant but vain effort to reach and save the burning ship. The ship eventually exploded causing many deaths but the section officer rallied the men under his command and although on the verge of collapse from fatigue, he continued to hold the situation. LAPPIN displayed a fine example of courage and devotion to duty and led his men without any regard for his own safety
Section Officer LANDAU, who showed bravery and unyielding devotion to duty, courageously obeyed all commands in the most nerve-testing circumstances. Although he knew there would be a second explosion, LANDAU stayed on and attended to the removal of the dead and injured, personally rescuing many of the wounded and organising their removal to hospital in impoverished ambulances.
HODGE who turned out although he should have been resting showed great devotion to duty, and his courage inspired his colleagues to continue with their dangerous task.
ROACH was several times thrown over by blast from bombs, but he continued to his post throughout the night working indefatigably until when the explosion occurred he was injured by blast and flying wreckage.
George Medal
John Samuel MERCER, pressureman, Liverpool Gas Company
British Empire Medal
James Edmund HAYES, leader, works fire brigade, Liverpool Gas Company
During an air raid a large gasholder received a direct hit through the crown, which was almost completely stripped off and the gas immediately caught fire. MERCER who was 35yds away received a severe shock. With utter disregard for his own safety and in the face of terrific heat from the flames he forced his way into the valve-house, only 15ft from the blazing holder. With great presence of mind, he closed and opened valves thus isolating the damaged holder. By directing jets of water on the fire and beating the flames down. HAYES prevented the flames setting fire to plant near by. The courage and promptitude with which MERCER and HAYES dealt with the situation saved much valuable property from destruction.
William BROADBENT, foreman, Civil Defence Rescue Service, Manchester
A high explosive bomb completely demolished two houses and ten people were trapped in a small space between the upper and lower floors which had sandwiched together. A rescue party led by BROADBENT, began tunnelling in three different directions. Two people were rescued from one tunnel, and four from another. The third tunnel proved extremely difficult to drive as obstructions were constantly encountered. Eventually these were overcome and the remaining causalities were released. The rescuers were in constant danger of further settlings of the ruins, which would have blocked the tunnels, and from coal gas that was escaping from fractured mains near by. The success of the operation was largely due to the courageous leadership of BROADBENT
William TULLY, member of the Civil Defence Rescue Service, Bootle
People were trapped in the cellars of two houses demolished by high explosive bombs. Although the remaining portions of the buildings were liable to collapse. TULLY wormed his way through a small hole and reached three persons whom he extricated. He then tunnelled a way to an adjoining cellar where other people were trapped. After over ten hours work he succeeded in recovering all the casualties. During this time he suffered from the effects of coal gas.
George Medal
Richard Bonser WILDE, leader reserve rescue party Civil Defence Decontamination Service Bootle
A high explosive bomb party demolished a building and adjoining premises caught fire. Under the leadership of WILDE wreckage was cleared from the entrance to the basement which was being used as a shelter, and seven people were rescued. Although warned that the building was liable to collapse WILDE would not leave until he had searched the premises and ascertained that all persons had been rescued
© 2010-2011 all rights reserved