List of recipients of the George Medal

The George Medal is awarded for acts of great bravery and to date, over 2,000 medals have been awarded since its inception in September 1940. Below is set out a selection of recipients of the award. Those listed here does not suggest their award was more notable than any other award of the George Medal.

Where a recipient has received a second GM, a picture of the ribbon bearing the bar symbol is shown. In December 1977, the provisions for the award were altered, allowing it to be awarded posthumously, in which case the "" symbol appears next to the recipients name.

1940s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
George Clayton Abel	Flight Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Air Force	In November 1943 his aircraft, laden with fuel and bombs, crash-landed soon after take-off. The crew evacuated the burning aircraft, but Abel realized that the rear gunner was still trapped inside. Despite the imminent danger of an explosion Abel led the crew back to the aircraft, to attempt to rescue him, eventually smashing the plexiglass with his bare hands to pull the gunner free.	1944
Margaret Irene Anderson	Staff Nurse, Australian Army Nursing Service	In recognition of conspicuous gallantry when her ship, Empire Star, was attacked by enemy aircraft during the evacuation of Singapore.	1942
Albert Arthur	Flying Officer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	In February 1944 an aircraft, carrying a 500 lb. bomb and incendiaries, crashed near a Royal Air Force Station, and caught fire. Arthur, a gunnery instructor, attempted to rescue the crew despite the heat and exploding ammunition. He was joined by Flight Lieutenant Alfred George Spencer, the station medical officer. Arthur entered the burning aircraft no less than four times, but was eventually driven back by the heat and flames. Spencer stayed close at hand and searched the wreckage for possible survivors. It was not until the bombs were red hot and Spencer was certain that the crew must be dead from the heat that the officers abandoned their efforts. They then warned the fire party to withdraw and cleared the area just before the bomb exploded.	1944
Muhammad Azad Khan	H/Captain, 1st Punjab Regiment (PJ No. 10036)	Awarded in 1943 for fighting bravely against the Japanese Army & took the railway station captured by the enemy during World War II in Java, Sumatra. From Samli Dam, Islamabad, Pakistan. He also received the 1939/45 Star, War Medal, Burma Star, Indian Service Medal (ISM), G.S. Medal, IDSM, OBI Class II, N.W. Frontier of India 1930 & Waziristan 1936-1937. He also fought in Kashmir during Indo-Pak war in 1948 with Capt. Sarwar Shaheed. He died in 1989.	1943
William "Bill" Bailey	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded in 1942, for his work as a clearance diver at Gibraltar. A bar to the GM was awarded for gallantry in 1944.	1942 1945 40px
William Aubrey Bailey	Captain, Church Army, Paddington	In April 1941, after himself being victim in a London air raid, he continued to tunnel under wreckage to rescue other victims.	1941
John James Baillie	Flying Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 194 Squadron RAF	On 14 June 1945, Baillie was the navigator of a Dakota which crashed and burst into flames near Mydngyan air strip in Central Burma. Although suffering from multiple head injuries, a broken cheek bone, and concussion, Baillie dragged two Indian other ranks clear of the wreck. He then re-entered the burning aircraft and rescued the injured wireless operator.	1945
Charity Anne Bick	ARP Dispatch Rider, West Bromwich	For delivering several messages by bicycle during a heavy air raid in the Birmingham Blitz in late 1940. Having lied about her age to join the ARP service, at 14 years old she is believed to be the youngest recipient of the George Medal.	1941
John Bradley	Member, Civil Defence Rescue Service, Bermondsey	Following a bombing raid on the London Docks at the height of the Blitz, Bradford was part of a rescue party with Ernest Playford entering a badly damaged and unsafe building to rescue a Post Warden. An adjacent wall was extremely unstable and liable to collapse, but Bradley and Playford refused to leave the trapped warden and Playford acted as human bridge as the wall collapsed on top of the damaged building with Bradley and Playford still inside. The warden was dug out alive; however, Bradley and Playford were severely injured. They were amongst the first recipients of the medal.	1941
John Bridge	Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve	In September 1940 Bridge was in charge of a bomb disposal squad at Devonport and carried out the demolition of a very dangerous bomb fitted with a delayed-action fuze. In May 1941 he disposed of a bomb which had fallen into the sluice valve chamber between two graving docks at Falmouth and failed to explode. He was the first military officer awarded a Bar to his GM. Bridge later received the George Cross for clearing enemy depth charges from Messina harbour in Sicily over a period of 10 days in August 1943.	1940 1941 40px
Leonard Charles Bridgeman	Corporal, Royal Air Force	A vessel which was taking a naval and RAF salvage crew to an aircraft which had crashed into the sea on the previous day struck a mine and sank. However, the forepart of the vessel remained afloat for a short period, and Bridgeman, suffering from the effects of the explosion, and accompanied by a naval officer, descended to the hold to rescue the injured. In spite of warnings, Bridgeman continued his rescue work and, when this part of the vessel capsized and sank, he went under with the wreckage. He managed to get clear and was rescued later. The naval officer lost his life.	1942
Albert William Brittan	ARP Heavy Rescue Service, Greenwich	Whilst serving as a squad leader, Brittan rescued four persons, including a woman and two children, from a collapsed building. In the middle of this rescue he was himself trapped for five hours when the roof of the adjoining building also collapsed on him.	1941
Tommy Brown	Junior Canteen Assistant, NAAFI, HMS Petard	Brown and two others boarded the abandoned German submarine U-559 to retrieve materials and code books. The U-boat suddenly sank killing his two companions. It was later discovered that Brown had lied about his age in order to enlist and was only 16 years old, making him one of the youngest recipients of the medal.	1942
Alfred Henry George Brunges	Section Leader, Aston Home Guard	During an air raid on 26 October 1940 Brunges and Patrol Leader Charles William Lovelace Tozer entered a basement air raid shelter which had been destroyed by a bomb. The shelter was rapidly filling with water from a broken main, and heavy bombs were falling in the vicinity, but Brunges and Tozer removed loose beams and debris with their bare hands until between fifteen and twenty people had been extricated, about half of them still alive. The two men only stopped when it was impossible to discover any further people.	1941
John "Buster" Cain	Costermonger, Dalston	The then-youngest recipient, he was just 15 in March 1941 when he helped in a rescue at a bombed and burning paint factory. He pulled six men from the building and helped rescue 30 in total. He received his medal from the King shortly after his 16th birthday. Pathe News	1941
Geoffrey John Cliff	Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded in 1942 for work undertaken defusing mines in London. Later the same year he was awarded a bar for defusing mines in Belfast.	1942 1942 40px
Michael Arthur Clinton	Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, No. 22 Bomb Disposal Company	Clinton was tasked with immunizing and removing a SC250 bomb in Romford. This was fitted with a Type 17 fuze, but the fuze pocket was damaged and it could not be removed. Whilst being lifted the fuze became active and ticking was heard, but thankfully it stopped. His bar was awarded for defusing a bomb that had two fuzes, a normal Type 50, but also a new delayed action Type 17A. This was possibly the first of these new fuzes to be discovered. Clinton took the decision to remove it for research.	1942 1943 40px
Arthur Henry Cobby	Group Captain (temporary Air Commodore), Royal Australian Air Force	On 7 September 1943, he was travelling as a passenger on a Catalina flying boat when it crashed at Townsville, Queensland. Although injured, Cobby helped rescue two other survivors.	1943
Daniel John Collins	Sergeant, Liverpool City Police	He rescued a woman and two children from the cellar of a bombed building, tunnelling through heavy debris with the assistance of three others. Despite the danger of fire and rising coal gas, he was able to bring them to safety.	1941
George Douglas Cook	Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded in 1941 for defusing a parachute mine in the Suez Canal and examining its booby trap device to gain a better understanding of its operation. In 1942 a bar was awarded for defusing a sea mine near Haifa fitted with an explosive device sensitive to light.	1941 1942 40px
Lionel Kenneth Crabb	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	Clearance diver. For gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.	1944
Guy D'Artois	Captain, Canadian Army, Royal 22e Régiment	For participating in an Arctic rescue mission with the Canadian Special Air Service Company in 1947.	1948
Elvire de Greef	Chef de Secteur, Comet line, Belgian Resistance	Also known as "Tante Go". For smuggling downed airmen out of France.	1945
Andrée de Jongh	Founder, Comet line, Belgian Resistance	Aged 20, in 1941 she appeared in Bilbao with an escaped airman and two Belgian assistants, and asked for permission to set up the Comet (Comète) escape line. Andrée formed the organisation and ran it, escorting 118 airmen over the Pyrenees personally. She was arrested by the Germans in 1943, but survived several concentration camps.	1944
Bernard Peter de Neumann	Second Officer, Merchant Navy	For removing a 250 kg bomb from the engine room of SS Tewkesbury.	1941
Geoffrey Howard Dhenin	Flying Officer, Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	One night in October, 1943, an aircraft, which had sustained damage during an attack against Hanover, crashed near an airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and immediately burst into flames. The rear gunner was injured and trapped in his crushed turret, being pinned down by the remains of the tail unit and the rear of the fuselage. A high explosive bomb was in the blazing wreckage some 10 yards away from the gunner. Flying Officer Dhenin, the station medical officer, and Corporal Lush, a gunner, hastened to the scene of the accident. Although fully aware that the heat might cause the bomb to detonate at any moment Flying Officer Dhenin worked for over half an hour to relieve the injured airman's pain and, assisted by Corporal Lush, endeavoured to release him. Their efforts to extricate the gunner were, however, unavailing. A mobile crane was brought to the scene and the mass of wreckage was lifted clear of the ground. Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Flying Officer Dhenin then crawled under the wreckage and released the trapped airman thereby enabling others helpers to drag him to safety. Flying Officer Dhenin and Corporal Lush showed fine courage and determination in circumstances of great danger.	1944
Marie Dissard	French Resistance, Leader, PAT Line	Dissard took over leadership of the PAT escape line after the arrest of Ian Garrow and Albert Guérisse.
Aline Lily Dumont	Chef de Secteur, Comet line, Belgian Resistance	Belgian teenager known as "Michou" who rescued downed airmen. Eventually identified by the Germans she fled to England in May 1944, having by then smuggled no fewer than 150 Allied personnel out of France.	1945
John Penfield Epps	Captain, Port of London Authority	London dockmaster who saved ships and lives during the Blitz.	1941
James Finlay	Sergeant, Royal Artillery, 114th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment	Rescued 14 men from a burning landing craft and ferry in a minefield.	1944
Frank Thomas Turner Fowler	Corporal, Intelligence Corps	Awarded "in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out work in a very brave manner". He is believed to have rescued one or more persons from a burning aircraft.	1944
Arthur Charles Aldridge French	Station Officer, London Fire Brigade	For displaying "bold and fearless leadership" for over four hours, and successfully preventing flames from reaching a heavy time bomb, saving an important railway bridge.	1941
Lewis Gerhold	Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, No. 11 Bomb Disposal Company	Awarded for bomb disposal at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Bishopton, Renfrewshire, 4 October to 24 November 1940; at the High Level Rothsay Docks, Isle of Bute, 14 March to 3 April 1941; at the Tannockside Colliery, Lanarkshire, 9 to 12 May 1941; and in Essex, 1943.	1941 1943 40px
Ernest Oliver Gidden	Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	For defusing a mine which had fallen between two houses in Harlesden in the late summer of 1940.	1941
Florentino Goicoechea	Mountain guide, Comet line, Belgian Resistance	Basque who smuggled 283 Allied airmen out of France over the Pyrenees.	1945
Leonard Verdi Goldsworthy	Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Vernon	Awarded for defusing two mines in September and October 1943, one at a Southampton wharf and the other in the River Thames. By the end of the war Goldsworthy was an Acting Lieutenant Commander, had also received the George Cross and Distinguished Service Cross, and made safe more than 300 mines.	1944
Frederick J. Gradden	Deputy Leader, Rescue Party, Wimbledon	During an enemy air raid on 1 October 1940 a bomb fell on a large house reducing it to rubble. Rescue Parties arrived at the scene and heard the faint cries of a person trapped underneath. Gradden tunnelled 20 feet through the debris, reaching the trapped person after two and a half hours work. He remained with her, guiding workers trying to reach her from above. Gradden remained there for three and a half hours, until the rescue party was able to remove the victim. Gradden was working in very dangerous surroundings for a total of over five hours, during part of which enemy aircraft were in the vicinity.	1941
John Astley Gray	Group Captain, Royal Air Force	A Wellington bomber made a belly landing at RAF Honington, coming to rest in a bomb dump, and caught fire. Joseph Aidan MacCarthy, assisted by Gray, entered the burning wreck and rescued two crewmen, receiving serious burns in the process. Both men were subsequently awarded the GM.	1941
Maurice Walter Griffiths	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	For trawling floating German magnetic mines in the North Sea.	1941
James Leslie Harries	Acting Commander, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded in 1943 for dealing with two acoustic mines near Whitstable. In 1945 a bar awarded "for exceptional gallantry, skill and great devotion to duty, often in close proximity to the enemy, during mine searching and clearance operations in the ports of Normandy and of the Low Countries."	1943 1945 40px
Frederick Arthur Harrison	Lance Bombardier, 114th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery	Rescued 14 men from a burning landing craft and ferry in a minefield.	1944
Joseph Hill	Driver (acting Lance-Corporal), Royal Army Service Corps	Following the crash of a Typhoon fighter-bomber close to his company's location Lance Corporal Hill reached the scene to find the pilot trapped while the aircraft had caught fire. Hill used an axe to extricate the pilot as ammunition and flares exploded around them. After twenty minutes work Hill was able to drag the pilot to safety just minutes before the fuel tanks exploded.	1945
Geoffrey Ambrose Hodges	Probationary Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	For "gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" in bomb disposal.	1940
Leonard Hollands	Sergeant, Corps of Royal Engineers	Awarded "in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work" in bomb disposal.	1943
Emma Horne	Nursing Sister, Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital, Coventry	On the night of 8/9 April 1941, during the Coventry Blitz, her hospital was bombed. She evacuated many patients and rescued a trapped nurse.	1941
Ernest William Howard	Warden, Civil Defence Service, Exeter	For rescuing five people trapped in the cellar of bombed house which was on fire.	1942
George Archibald Howe	Manager, Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.	On 1 July 1940 Salt End, East Riding of Yorkshire (five miles east of Kingston upon Hull) suffered the very first daylight raid on mainland Britain, when between 16:40 and 17:00 a German aircraft dropped its bombs on the oil terminal in a nuisance raid, in which the aircraft unsuccessfully attacked several barrage balloons. Shrapnel from the bomb punctured a 2,500 ton holding tank and the leaking petrol caught fire and threatened to cause adjacent tanks to explode. The courageous effort of depot staff and fire brigades prevented a major disaster.	1940
George Denis Howes	Second Officer, Merchant Navy, SS Peterton	After his ship was sunk by the German submarine U-109 on 17 September 1942 in the North Atlantic. Howes found himself commanding a lifeboat with twenty-one of the crew aboard. The food rations ran out after 34 days, and there was only a reduced water ration for the last 15 days. On the 49th day they were picked up by the naval trawler HMS Canna (T161) and landed at Freetown, where one crewman died in hospital.	1943
Jim Howell	Petty Officer, Royal Navy, HMS Pintail (K21)	Awarded for his bravery, when he disabled a 2000 lb mine from the side of a ship, saving it, and all on board. Two weeks after receiving the medal from the King, he and two thirds of the crew were killed in action when they went to help the steamship Royal Scot after it detonated an acoustic mine, blew up and sank. Pintail immediately dashed to the scene to help in the rescue, but she was also destroyed by an acoustic mine. He was pictured in the Daily Herald on 17 September 1941 with his medal.	1941
John Pilkington Hudson	Captain (temporary Major), Royal Engineers	First awarded for an incident at Flour Mill, Albert Bridge, Battersea, London, on 24 June 1943. Major Hudson was a boffin and needed fuzes for his research. He had developed a process for temporarily freezing a fuze, so enabling its removal whilst inert. The bar was awarded for spending nine days removing a new fuze from a V-1 flying bomb.	1943 1944 40px
John Thomas Humphries	Petty Officer, Royal Australian Navy	For courage and skill displayed in diving operations while serving on HMS Kanimbla, an armed merchant cruiser.	1942
Victor William Hutchings	War Reserve Constable, Exeter City Police	For rescuing five people trapped in the cellar of bombed house which was on fire.	1942
George Arthur Hutchinson	Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force	During a fire in a top storey room at a Royal Air Force Station one day in February, 1941, Leading Aircraftman Hutchinson succeeded in getting on to the roof and then climbed along the side of the wall, getting down on to a stack-pipe, from which he assisted a number of occupants to safety. Thinking the room was clear, he had started to get down himself when another airman appeared at the window, badly burned and with his clothing on fire. This airman got on to the window ledge and locked his arms round the window frame but, owing to his dazed condition, he could not, or would not, let go. Leading Aircraftman Hutchinson, realising the airman's position, and showing complete disregard for his own safety, climbed back on to the window ledge and tried to beat out the flames on the airman's tunic but he was unsuccessful in doing this. He managed to get the airman away, how- ever, by forcing him to release his grip on the window-frame; by this time the room was a mass of flames. Leading Aircraftman Hutchinson faced great danger from burning and from the collapse of the building, and exhibited bravery of a high order in returning for the final rescue. Unfortunately, the airman whom he rescued has since died.	1941
Kenneth Hutton	Sapper, Royal Engineers	Awarded in recognition of gallant conduct in carrying out hazardous work in the Middle East in a very brave manner. The citation held at the TNA in Kew states he was part of a team near to a lorry containing 400 mines which exploded and in spite of being wounded in six places he pulled one of the crew out.	1943
John Inglis	Second Officer, Merchant Navy	Awarded after his ship was very heavily attacked by Japanese aircraft with machine guns and bombs shortly after leaving Singapore. Inglis, in charge in charge of one of the fire parties, was blown into the air by bomb blast and wounded by splinters, but refused treatment and carried on working to save the ship from fire.	1942
Porter Cornelius Jarrell	Private, Royal Army Medical Corps	An American serving in the Special Boat Squadron, Jarrell was part of an SBS unit that occupied the Greek island of Symi in September 1943, following the Italian Armistice. On 8 October during an air raid by German Junkers Ju 87s the headquarters building of the SBS was hit by a bomb, trapping two men inside. Jarrell worked for 27 hours without rest to free them, through two further air raids, and had to amputate the crushed leg of one man in order to free him.	1944
Martin Challenor Page Johnson	Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander), Royal Naval Reserve	Awarded for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty during mine disposal in the UK between October 1941 and August 1942. He made safe four torpedoes in the only German submarine to be captured and brought to Britain during the Second World War. U-570 surrendered after being depth-charged and machine-gunned by an RAF Hudson south of Iceland in 1941, and was taken to Vickers' shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness.	1942
Sybil Kathigasu	Nurse, Ipoh, Malaya	For services to the forces during military operations in Malaya prior to 2 September 1945. Kathigasu and her husband Dr. Abdon C. Kathigasu, supported the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya, secretly listening to BBC news broadcasts, and providing information and medical treatment to the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army. She was eventually arrested by the Kempeitai in 1943, revealing nothing under interrogation, despite being waterboarded. She is the only Malayan woman to be awarded the George Medal.	1947
George Keen	Sub Ganger, Southern Railway Company	After an ammunition train of some fifty wagons was hit by a bomb during an air raid and caught fire. Keen and George Leach led a working party to help move the damaged wagons, to prevent the fire spreading. This took about two hours, during which time burning wagons were exploding.	1940
Patrick King	Air Raid Warden, Seaton Delaval	On 26 August 1940 he rescued a blind woman from a bombed house during an air-raid.	1940
George Graham Layton	Aircraftman 2nd Class, Royal Air Force	In July 1942 he rescued an airman from a fiercely burning aircraft with bombs still on board, stripped him of his burning clothes and wrapped him in his own shirt.	1943
George Leach	Lengthsman, Southern Railway Company	After an ammunition train of some fifty wagons was hit by a bomb during an air raid and caught fire. Keen and George Leach led a working party to help move the damaged wagons, to prevent the fire spreading. This took about two hours, during which time burning wagons were exploding.	1940
Philip Lucas	Test Pilot, Hawker Aircraft	Whilst flying the first prototype Hawker Tornado, P5219, his aircraft suffered a failure in the monocoque structure just forward of the cockpit, but Lucas managed to land the damaged fighter safely, saving the airframe from destruction, allowing it to be repaired and returned to flight one month later.	1941
Aidan MacCarthy	Acting Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force	A Wellington bomber made a belly landing at RAF Honington, coming to rest in a bomb dump, and caught fire. MacCarthy, assisted by Group Captain John Astley Gray, entered the burning wreck and rescued two crewmen, receiving serious burns in the process. Both men were subsequently awarded the GM.	1941
Frans (Frank) Mallia	Chargeman of Labourers, HM Dockyard, Malta	On 11 June 1940, during an enemy air raid on the area of the Corradino, a bomb scattered splinters and debris near a gun and its crew, killing one. To protect the gun from further damage it was decided to erect splinter plates around it, each weighing three-quarters of a ton. Mallia, Chargeman of Labourers, and B. J. Lewis, Chargeman of Fitters, and their respective gangs volunteered. The following day they undertook the transport and re-erection of a gun, which normally would have taken four full days. They did it in five days and three hours in spite of frequent bombing raids, with no protection beyond steel helmets.	1940
Morgan Charles Giles	Lieutenant, Royal Navy	For "gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" during bomb and mine disposal work while serving at HMS Nile, Egypt.	1941
John Stuart Mould	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	Awarded "for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty", in mine disposal.	1942
Louis Henri Nouveau	French Resistance, PAT line	Nouveau was a broker from Marseille who was a financial supporter of the escape line organised by Ian Garrow in Southern France in 1940, which later became known as the "PAT Line". Nouveau became a member of the organisation in March 1941, and his flat was used as a safe house for numerous escapers and evaders. In early 1943 Nouveau travelled to Brittany to expand the network, but was betrayed and arrested by the Germans on 13 February. He spent the rest of war in various concentration camps, but survived the war.	c.1945
Denis James Patrick O'Hagan	Acting Lieutenant (later Acting Commander), Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Vernon	At the main power station in Manchester, O'Hagan used live steam from a railway locomotive to melt and drain the explosive from an air-dropped mine, whose fuze and anti-tamper system were new to British Intelligence. He was awarded a second George Medal after a similar incident involving a new "G" type mine at Nuneaton.	1941 1942 40px
Peter Guy Ottewill	Acting Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force	In June 1943 a Beaufighter aircraft crashed into an ammunition store when taking off and immediately caught fire. Despite the exploding ammunition in the aircraft and the store, Ottewill jumped on the wing of the burning aircraft, opened the hatch and pulled the pilot clear, then returned and rescued the observer.	1943
Jack Owen	Fireman, Kingston upon Hull Fire Brigade	On 1 July 1940 Salt End, East Riding of Yorkshire, (five miles east of Kingston upon Hull) suffered the very first daylight raid on mainland Britain, when between 16:40 and 17:00 a German aircraft dropped its bombs on the oil terminal in a nuisance raid, in which the aircraft unsuccessfully attacked several barrage balloons. Shrapnel from the bomb punctured a 2,500 ton holding tank and the leaking petrol caught fire and threatened to cause adjacent tanks to explode. The courageous effort of depot staff and fire brigades prevented a major disaster.	1940
Richard Townshend Payne	Captain, Merchant Navy	On the night of 17/18 September 1940 his ship, SS Marina, was torpedoed by the German submarine U-48 in position , and sank in fifteen minutes. Captain Payne remained on board until sure that all his crew were in the lifeboats, leaving the ship moments before it sank. At dawn he decided to head for the coast of Ireland, several hundred miles away. The sixteen men in the boat received a daily ration of three dry biscuits and a dipper of water. After six days the water ran out, and the men were too weak to eat the dry biscuit. On the eighth day they sighted a ship which took them aboard and towed the boat to port.	1941
Thomas Patrick Peters	Able Seaman, Royal Navy	For gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty during bomb and mine disposal in Messina Harbour, Sicily, for two weeks ending 20 June 1944.	1944
Ernest Lewis Playford	Leader, Civil Defence Rescue Service, Bermondsey	Following a bombing raid on the London Docks at the height of the Blitz, Playford was part of a rescue party with John Bradley entering into badly damaged and unsafe building to rescue a Post Warden. An adjacent wall was extremely unstable and liable to collapse, but he and Bradley refused to leave the trapped warden and Playford acted as human bridge as the wall collapsed on top of the damaged building with him and Bradley still inside. The warden was dug out alive; however, Playford and Bradley were severely injured. They were amongst the first recipients of the medal.	1941
Edward Redknapp	Member, ARP Rescue Party, Holborn	Despite an order to halt the rescue of those trapped in a basement shelter due to a second bombing attack, Redknapp led ten men back to continue work for four hours in masses of debris and water until the last of 16 live casualties had been extricated.	1941
Howard Dudley Reid	Lieutenant, Royal Australian Navy	First awarded for "gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" in mine disposal between December 1940 to January 1941. Secondly for mine disposal in Glasgow in August 1941.	1941 1942 40px
George Roberts	Goods Guard, London, Midland and Scottish Railway	On 3 May 1941, during the Liverpool Blitz, Roberts led a party of railwaymen into a siding to uncouple the undamaged rear section of a munitions train which had been hit by a bomb and was on fire, while the air raid was still in progress.	1941
Victor Rothschild	Administrative Assistant, War Office	Rothschild was actually serving in the Security Service (MI5), as the head of Section B1C, dealing with "explosives and sabotage". He received the GM for defusing a German booby trap concealed in a case of onions in a ship's hold.	1944
Albert James Sambridge	Member, ARP Rescue Party, Hackney	A high explosive bomb struck a building causing fires and bursting the water mains. The water flooded the building and Sambridge risked his life freeing a trapped woman. He managed to get her free as the water reached five feet.	1941
George Samuel Sewell	Civilian Engineer, Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.	On 1 July 1940 Salt End, East Riding of Yorkshire, (five miles east of Kingston upon Hull) suffered the very first daylight raid on mainland Britain, when between 16:40 and 17:00 a German aircraft dropped its bombs on the oil terminal in a nuisance raid, in which the aircraft unsuccessfully attacked several barrage balloons. Shrapnel from the bomb punctured a 2,500 ton holding tank and the leaking petrol caught fire and threatened to cause adjacent tanks to explode. The courageous effort of depot staff and fire brigades prevented a major disaster. Sewell received his second award the following year (becoming the first person to receive the award twice) when the oil depot was again bombed. While an air raid was still in progress he used sand bags to extinguish jets of flame coming from a large fuel tank, and climbed onto another tank and kicked off an incendiary bomb.	1940 1941 40px
Archibald Ernest Sexton	War Reserve Constable, Metropolitan Police	For his part in rescuing two men and a woman trapped in an air-raid shelter underneath Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.	1944
William Sigsworth	Manager, Anglo-American Oil Co. Ltd.	On 1 July 1940 Salt End, East Riding of Yorkshire (five miles east of Kingston upon Hull) suffered the very first daylight raid on mainland Britain, when between 16:40 and 17:00 a German aircraft dropped its bombs on the oil terminal in a nuisance raid, in which the aircraft unsuccessfully attacked several barrage balloons. Shrapnel from the bomb punctured a 2,500 ton holding tank and the leaking petrol caught fire and threatened to cause adjacent tanks to explode. The courageous effort of depot staff and fire brigades prevented a major disaster.	1940
John Andrew Sinclair	Acting Corporal, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	In 1943 the fully fuelled Wellington bomber, that Sinclair was flying in crashed and burst into flames on take off. Sinclair twice re-entered the burning aircraft to rescue two Polish airmen trapped inside.	1944
Krystyna Skarbek	F Section, Special Operations Executive	Skarbek (serving under the name "Christine Granville") was parachuted into southern France in July 1944. When three members of her group were arrested by the Gestapo, Granville, using a mixture of threats and bribery convinced them to release the prisoners, who were about to be shot. For her "nerve, coolness, and devotion to duty and high courage" she was recommended for the George Cross.	1947
Edward Alfred Smith	Sergeant, Palestine Police Force	For gallantry following the bombing of the King David Hotel, Jerusalem, on 22 July 1946, where he rescued three British soldiers buried in the rubble by digging a tunnel. He worked at great personal risk for six hours in intense heat.	1946
Alfred George Spencer	Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve	In February 1944, an aircraft, carrying a 500 lb. bomb and incendiaries, crashed near a Royal Air Force Station, and immediately caught fire. Flying Officer Albert Arthur, a gunnery instructor, attempted to rescue the crew, and shortly afterwards was joined by Flight Lieutenant Spencer, the station medical officer. Arthur entered the burning aircraft four times before being driven back by the heat and flames, badly burnt. Spencer stayed close at hand and searched in the wreckage for survivors. It was not until the bomb was red hot and Spencer was certain that the crew must be dead that they abandoned their efforts. They then cleared the area just before the bomb exploded.	1944
Benjamin Ralph Clive Stevens	Sector Warden, Civil Defence Service	For extracting a woman and her husband trapped under heavy debris from a bombed building which had collapsed.	1941
Maurice Anthony Sullivan	Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force, No. 7 Squadron	In November 1941 when his aircraft crashed and burst into flames, Sergeant Sullivan, the rear gunner, climbed out of his turret. With the assistance of two soldiers who arrived on the scene he then repeatedly re-entered the burning aircraft to rescue members of his crew trapped or injured inside.	1942
Hugh Randall Syme	Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Vernon	His first George Medal was awarded in June 1941 for dealing with a series of ten mines. In June 1942 he was awarded a second for disarming a mine buried deep in clay in a reservoir embankment at Primrose Hill, London. In 1943 he was awarded the George Cross.	1941 1942 40px
Alexander Charles Thomas	Lieutenant, Corps of Royal Engineers	He was engaged for seven continuous days of intensive bomb disposal operations following the enemy air raids on Grimsby and Cleethorpes on 14 June 1943. This raid was the first of its kind (using butterfly bombs) and presented many new problems in bomb disposal. Throughout these operations Thomas contributed greatly to their success by his outstanding example of resourcefulness, courage and leadership.	1943
Michael Hilary Reuel Tolkien	Officer Cadet, Royal Air Force	Awarded "for gallantry when on defence duty during a heavy bombing attack on an RAF Station".	1941
Charles William Lovelace Tozer	Patrol Leader, Aston Home Guard	During an air raid on 26 October 1940 Tozer and Section Leader Alfred Henry George Brunges entered a basement air raid shelter which had been destroyed by a bomb. The shelter was rapidly filling with water from a broken main, and heavy bombs were falling in the vicinity, but Brunges and Tozer removed loose beams and debris with their bare hands until between fifteen and twenty people had been extricated, about half of them still alive. The two men only stopped when it was impossible to discover any further people.	1941
Clifford Turner	Leading Fireman, Kingston upon Hull Fire Brigade	On 1 July 1940 Salt End, East Riding of Yorkshire (five miles east of Kingston upon Hull) suffered the very first daylight raid on mainland Britain, when between 16:40 and 17:00 a German aircraft dropped its bombs on the oil terminal in a nuisance raid, in which the aircraft unsuccessfully attacked several barrage balloons. Shrapnel from the bomb punctured a 2,500 ton holding tank and the leaking petrol caught fire and threatened to cause adjacent tanks to explode. The courageous effort of depot staff and fire brigades prevented a major disaster.	1940
Lionel Van Praag	Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force	On 26 January 1942 Van Praag was the co-pilot of a Douglas DC-2 which was attacked by two Japanese fighters and forced down into the Sumba Strait, Indonesia. The aircraft soon sank, leaving Van Praag, his pilot Flying Officer Noel Wilson Webster, and two other crewmen in open water. Webster gave his life-jacket to a crewman who could not swim, while the other was semi-conscious, having been injured in the crash. Webster and Van Praag managed to drag them safely to shore, but were in the water for thirty hours, during which time they beat off several attacks by sharks.	1942
Jacob Charles Vouza	Sergeant-Major (Retd.), Solomon Islands Protectorate Police, Guadalcanal	Vouza volunteered to act as a guide and scout for American troops, but was captured by the Japanese and harshly interrogated. He refused to give any information despite being tied to a tree and bayonetted in the arm, shoulder, face and stomach, and finally left for dead. He managed to free himself and crawled back to US lines where, on the verge of collapse, he reported to his senior officer before seeking medical treatment.	1942
Herbert Edgar Wadsley	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Vernon	First awarded in 1940 for mine disposal in London. A bar was awarded in 1942 for bomb and mine disposal in Portsmouth in 1941.	1940 1942 40px
Nancy Wake	F Section, Special Operations Executive	For brave conduct in hazardous circumstances. Wake was living in Marseille with her French husband when the war began. After the occupation she joined the "PAT Line", organising the escape of Allied airmen. After being forced to flee to England in May 1943 she joined SOE, and was parachuted back into France in April 1944, becoming an organiser for a large group of Maquis in the Auvergne region.	1945
George Frederich Watling	Station Officer, London Fire Brigade	For displaying "bold and fearless leadership", successfully preventing flames from reaching a heavy time bomb, saving an important railway bridge.	1941
Reginald Norman Willey	Leader, Civil Defence Rescue Service	For rescuing and saving the lives of two people buried in the debris of a bombed building, showing "great courage and endurance".	1942
James Williams	Sapper, Royal Engineers	On 14 August 1940, a 500 kg bomb fell into the electricity depot at Lyndhurst. Williams assisted the Bomb Disposal Officer in excavating the bomb and removing the fuzes, which proved to be one of the first, if not the first, No. 17 RHS 1940 clockwork mechanism fuze to be obtained, and was of great value to other Disposal Sections.	1940
Howard Etherington Wood	Sergeant, Birmingham City Police	During an enemy air raid a building was hit by bombs. Wood and Constable Ernest Callaghan learned that six people were trapped in an underground shelter. They found one injured man, and the body of another before a partial collapse blocked the entrance to the shelter. Wood and Callaghan cleared debris by hand, finding that the inside of the shelter had partly collapsed. They entered, and were joined by Hughes, a civilian, in recovering survivors. The upper floors of the steel-framed building contained heavy machinery, and could have collapsed at any moment, and enemy aircraft were still dropping bombs nearby. Callaghan and Hughes received the British Empire Medal.	1942
James Kerr Woodrow	Lieutenant (later Acting Lieutenant-Commander), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded for mine disposal in the UK between 1942 and 1943. A bar was awarded for disposing of damaged ammunition in the magazines of HMS Thane, January–February 1945, after she had been torpedoed.	1944 1945 40px
Edward Dutton Woolley	Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	First awarded in 1941 for dealing with a mine on the third storey of a flour mill in London's Docklands in October 1940. The fuze clock restarted twice, but the mine was rendered safe. A bar was awarded after he was sent to Malta where he not only rendered safe bombs and mines, but also handled Italian human torpedoes and explosive motor boats.	1941 1942 40px
George William Shears Whitmore	Police Constable	War Rescue during Blitz in East Dulwich	1941

1950s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
William Anderson	Column Officer, National Fire Service, Glasgow	Anderson was one of three fire officers awarded the GM for "showing utter disregard of their own safety in making persistent attempts to save the lives of the trapped men..." in a fire at a cabinet-makers at Ballater Street, Glasgow.	1953
Allassan Busanga	Corporal, Gold Coast Police Reserve	Busanga was one of eight police officers who, armed only with batons, faced down a hostile crowd estimated at 2,000 on the bridge near Elmina Castle. While engaging the rioters Busanga received severe gunshot wounds in the head and body.	1953
Wilfred Cain	Constable, Nottingham City Police	Shortly after midnight Cain saw a man in the river near Trent Bridge, Nottingham, and heard a call for help. Using the headlights from a patrol car Cain swam to the rescue. The man was about 150 feet (46 m) from the bank, and the river, between 12–15 feet (3.7–4.6 m) in depth, was running with a very strong current. The water was also extremely cold and the man struggled continuously. Cain, however, swam with him for about 350 yards (320 m) until reaching the river bank.	1953
Robert Campbell	Constable, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary	For disarming and arresting Robert Dobie Smith, after Smith had shot dead fellow police officer William Gibson while the officers were on duty. Smith was hanged in Saughton, Edinburgh, in September 1951.	1951
Chew Kim Chuan	Inspector, Federation of Malaya Police Force	For outstanding gallantry in action against communist terrorists, and responsible for the capture of the leaders of many gangs. On one occasion he undertook, unarmed, an operation which involved facing terrorists armed with sten guns, rifles, and hand grenades, and after a fierce hand-to-hand struggle succeeded in overcoming them and bringing them to justice.	1956
Thomas Vivian Chisnall	Farmer, Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia	When an aircraft crashed into some trees after over-shooting the runway at Thornhill airfield, Chisnall, who lived nearby, rushed to the scene. The aircraft was on fire and the pilot, badly injured and unconscious, was still strapped into the cockpit. Chisnall attempted to release him, but was driven back by the flames. A neighbour, Mr. Richard Walton Fores Cox, a Garage Manager, then arrived and attempted to cut the pilot free with his penknife, but was also driven back. Chisnall, using a coat and hat as a shield, returned several times to the aircraft and using Cox's knife eventually managed to cut the pilot free, and he and Cox dragged him away from the wreckage and administered first aid. Cox was subsequently awarded the British Empire Medal.	1953
Leslie Robert Colquhoun	Civil Test Pilot, Vickers-Armstrongs Supermarine Works	In May 1950 Colquhoun was flying an Attacker to test the effectiveness of the air brakes. On the third of two dives the outer portion of the starboard wing folded up and the ailerons became locked. Colquhoun decided not to eject and made a high-speed landing at Chilbolton airfield, saving the aircraft so that the cause could be discovered.	1950
Bruce Desmond Christofferson	Detective, New Zealand Police Force	For tackling two youths armed with rifles, suspected of robbery, during which he was shot in the chest. The two fled the scene, but were subsequently arrested.	1953
Dama Dagarti	Sergeant, Gold Coast Police Reserve	Sergeant Dagarti was one of eight police officers who, armed only with batons, faced down a hostile crowd estimated at 2,000 on the bridge near Elmina Castle. Shots were fired from the crowd killing the Commanding Officer and mortally wounding another constable. Dagarti took command and engaged the crowd with batons. In a short period of time all except Dagarti were wounded, preventing them from taking further part in the action, but he continued to engage the crowd single-handed until reinforcements arrived.	1953
Lawrence Silvester Dick	Junior Nurse, Ministry of Health, Gold Coast	For going to the assistance of police officers who had been shot by rioters, whilst under fire.	1953
George Arthur Dorsett	Constable, Metropolitan Police	Awarded for disarming a man armed with a pistol who had already shot at another officer. Awarded a bar to the GM for disarming a man with a shotgun.	1953 1959 40px
Hugh Douglas	Police Constable, Nottingham City Police	Saved a young child from a burning house after the flames had forced three others from attempting a rescue.	1950
David George Ensor	Civil Servant, Ministry of Labour and National Insurance, Northern Ireland	For pursuing armed robbers on foot and by car.	1953
Oswald Falconar	Colour Sergeant, Royal Marines	On 17 May 1953 at RAF Luqa, Malta, an aircraft, carrying men from 40 Commando crashed on take off. The Marines evacuated the aircraft as flames and smoke swept through, but Falconar realized that one man was trapped by his safety belt. He turned back from the exit to release him, and once outside, despite his burnt hands, helped the man to tear off his burning clothing.	1953
Acton Henry Gordon Gibbon	Captain, Royal Regiment of Artillery	Awarded in recognition of his long-sustained courage as a prisoner during the Korean War. In May 1951, Gibbon helped three officers to escape, resulting in his "vigorous interrogation" in the camp reserved for this treatment near Pyongyang, known as "Pak's Palace" after its commandant, Major Pak.	1951
George Alfred Harrison	Shop Assistant, Jaeger & Co., Birmingham	For showing outstanding devotion to duty and courage. His determination and persistence, although injured, were the means of bringing a dangerous gang of criminals to justice.	1950
Ian Henderson	Superintendent, Kenya Police	Henderson was first awarded the medal in 1954 for his work attempting to arrange meetings between Government representatives and the Mau Mau, and received a second award in 1955. In 1957 General Sir Gerald Lathbury when wrote that "Ian Henderson has probably done more than any single individual to bring the Emergency to an end".	1954 1955 40px
Freda Holland	Night Sister, Dellwood Maternity Home, Reading	For saving 15 newborn babies in a fire on 18 April 1954.	1954
Frederick Leslie Jones	Constable, New South Wales Police	For disarming a man armed with a rifle.	1953
Freeman Kilpatrick	Staff Sergeant, United States Air Force, 47th Bombardment Wing	While stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk, he was cited for rescuing 18 people in floods in East Anglia on 31 January 1953.	1953
John Rodney Lees	Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service	Rescued an injured British Army officer, Major Hugh Robertson, from the Welsh mountain, Craig yr Ysfa, in winter by carrying him down the rock face on his back while being lowered, and while the major was struggling in delirium, in the dark.	1958
Reis Leming	Airman 2nd class, United States Air Force, 67th Air Rescue Squadron	While stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, he saved the lives of 27 people in floods in East Anglia on 31 January 1953 by venturing alone on a small rubber raft in the dark.	1953
Stanley McArdle	Lieutenant-Commander, Royal Navy, HMS Contest	Following the sinking of the MV Princess Victoria Contest came upon a survivor clinging to a liferaft, clearly exhausted. Despite heavy seas McArdle dived overboard and dragged him back to the ship.	1953
James Melvin	Divisional Officer, National Fire Service, Glasgow	Melvin was one of three fire officers awarded the GM for "showing utter disregard of their own safety in making persistent attempts to save the lives of the trapped men..." in a fire at a cabinet-makers at Ballater Street, Glasgow.	1953
Robert Gordon Morgan	Flight Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Air Force	Rescued a pilot from a burning F86 Sabre on 21 July 1955 at No. 1 Fighter Wing, Marville, France. With ammunition exploding and while standing on the wing which had a partially filled fuel tank, he along with Leading Aircraftman Harry John Waters were able to pull the pilot from the wreckage.	1957
Kanda Msiko	Mine Boss Boy, Mindola Mine, Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia	For saving the lives of two fellow miners on 11 October 1950.	1950
Tenzing Norgay	Mountaineer, Nepal	For his part in the first ascent to the summit of Mount Everest.	1953
David Walker Park	Deputy Labour Director, Scottish Division, National Coal Board	During the Knockshinnoch mining accident of September 1950, over 100 men were trapped below ground. An escape route was made through disused workings to the trapped men, but parts were heavily charged with inflammable gas. Park volunteered to enter the mine, joining the trapped men and instructing them in the use of breathing apparatus, and organising their escape. When the last of the men had been rescued he stayed behind to lead a search party to ensure that no one had been left behind.	1951
Menggong anak Panggit	Iban Tracker, Johor, Federation of Malaya	Menggong was second in command of an Iban platoon patrolling in the Labis area of Segamat, Johor. While attacking a bandit camp the Lieutenant in command was killed, and Menggong assumed command. Seizing a Bren gun and under heavy fire he rushed into the enemy camp, while his men, inspired by his example, charged. Although outnumbered by more than two to one, they fought until the bandits were forced to withdraw. Menggong then organised a search of the area, and only when this proved fruitless did he order the withdrawal of his platoon.	1953
Eric Joseph Rippon	Sergeant, New South Wales Police	For disarming a man armed with a shotgun.	1953
Anthony James Arthur Rivers	Lampman, British Transport Commission, Western Region	For saving a woman who was trapped on the line at Cradley Heath railway station.	1955
Bernard Edward Ruck	Assistant Superintendent, Kenya Police	For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a series of incidents over a long period during attempted negotiations with the Mau Mau in the Mount Kenya area. He received a bar to the GM in 1955 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty over a period of three months making and maintaining contact with Mau Mau leaders. Ruck made thirty-four visits to the forest as a member of a team, usually only three strong, which had to enter unarmed for talks. He knew that there were a number of armed Mau Mau in the vicinity, and on occasions these showed themselves and more than once adopted an aggressive and provocative attitude. Despite this Ruck calmly continued to do his duty.	1954 1955 40px
John Swanson	Assistant Firemaster, National Fire Service, Glasgow	Swanson was one of three fire officers awarded the GM for "showing utter disregard of their own safety in making persistent attempts to save the lives of the trapped men..." in a fire at a cabinet-makers at Ballater Street, Glasgow.	1953
Anthony Trevor Taylor	Sergeant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps	On 7 October 1956, Sergeant Taylor, the Ammunition Examiner attached to an infantry brigade during the Cyprus Emergency, was called on deal with time bombs located in a practically completed new Police Station. On arrival he was informed that three bombs had already exploded, the last only ten minutes before, doing considerable damage. He entered the building, finding a fourth bomb concealed in the wall beneath the stairs. Taylor, with some difficulty, removed a time pencil, which operated harmlessly in his hand while he was removing the bomb. In the previous six months Taylor had dealt with no less than ten similar time bombs and many home-made bombs and grenades which he had examined and rendered safe.	1956
Leung Yiu Tong	Detective Corporal, Special Branch, Hong Kong Police Force	Corporal Leung was attacked by two men in Grampian Road, Kowloon, and was despite being shot in the stomach returned fire, wounding one assailant, The second man fled, but was pursued by Leung for about a quarter of a mile, finally catching up with him on some waste ground. The man drew a knife, but Leung subdued and arrested him and took him into custody, before he eventually collapsed.	1953
Samuel Turkington	Postman, Glasgow	For intervening in an attempted armed robbery of a sub-Post Office on Tollcross Road, Glasgow, and grappling with, and then pursuing, an armed man, who was eventually overpowered and arrested by two police officers.	1953
Wilfred Warren	Chief Petty Officer, Royal Navy, HMS Contest	Assisted Lieutenant-Commander Stanley McArdle in saving a survivor from the sunken ferry MV Princess Victoria.	1953
Harry John Waters	Leading Aircraftman, Royal Canadian Air Force	For assisting in the rescue of a pilot from a burning F86 Sabre on 21 July 1955 at No. 1 Fighter Wing, Marville, France. Waters helped Robert Morgan pull the injured pilot from the wreckage.	1955
William Arthur Waterton	Chief Test Pilot, Gloster Aircraft Company	He landed the prototype Gloster Javelin aircraft after flutter had destroyed the elevators, thereby saving important information.	1952

1960s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
Hilton Frank Alomes	Police Officer, Bushy Park, Tasmania	For rescuing two people during the Derwent Valley floods.	1960
Jurgen "George" Preissler	Ski Professional / Miner	George J. Preissler helped to rescue Heinrich W. Wenzel following a cave-in, Britannia Beach, British Columbia, November 1, 1960. When 2,000 tons of rock fell in an ore mine where he was working, Wenzel, 44, miner, was trapped in a seated position in a small chamber formed by the debris, which included timbers used to form the working levels of the mine. One timber nearly severed his arm just below the shoulder, but the artery was pinched shut and did not bleed. Preissler, 29, miner, and other miners called out to Wenzel, who reported his situation and physical condition. John Johnson, Dr. Barrie C. Flather, and mine officials arrived. Unable to find an opening in the rubble, Preissler, Johnson, and others began digging in gravel which had been used to backfill the lower levels previously mined. They excavated a tunnel three feet wide and four feet high for 35 feet just under the flooring of the level 10 feet below Wenzel's position. Preissler and Johnson then cut and carefully removed timbers, which had penetrated from the working level above. With only dim light from the lamp of his miner's hat, Preissler wriggled through the opening in the debris into a passage 18 inches high and wide, the bottom of which sloped upward in the direction of Wenzel. Taking care not to dislodge debris at the points where clearance was as little as 14 inches, Preissler squirmed through the rubble for 14 feet and reached Wenzel's chamber, which had an opening one foot in diameter. Wenzel said he was in considerable pain. Preissler wriggled backward through the, debris and returned to the other men. He reported on conditions and then cautiously crawled back to Wenzel with water and a pain-killing drug. Wenzel took them but said that he could not get through the chamber's small opening with his injured arm. Dr. Flather, who was larger than Preissler, volunteered to try to reach Wenzel and give medical aid, but was unable to reach Wenzel. Preissler later in his life stated that the earlier news accounts were not accurate and that he was the only person able to reach Wenzel. When Wenzel urged Preissler to amputate his arm, it was Wenzel who performed the amputation. At the urging of Preissler, Wenzel with difficulty squirmed through the opening. He followed Preissler downward through the passage and thence out of the tunnel. Wenzel was hospitalized and recuperated for eight months. Preissler was also awarded the Carnegie Medal for his act of extraordinary civilian heroism.	1961
John Campbell	Constable, City of Glasgow Police	On 30 December 1969, following the Linwood bank robbery, he tackled and disarmed Howard Wilson, a former police officer turned bank robber, after three other police officers had already been shot, two fatally.	1969
Robert Carswell	Constable, Liverpool City Police.	In recognition of his brave conduct apprehending an armed robber in August 1961.	1962
James McMurray Dunlop	Fireman, Glasgow Fire Service	For his part in fighting the Cheapside Street whisky bond fire which killed 14 firefighters and five members of the Salvage Corps.	1960
John Joseph Ryan	Detective Sergeant, 1st Class, Queensland Police Service	First awarded for disarming a man threatening police officers with a rifle, and later in the same year, awarded a second GM for disarming another man also armed with a rifle.	1963 1963 40px
Terry Lewis	Detective Senior Constable, Queensland Police Service	For his part in the apprehension of a man armed with a rifle, who had threatened to kill two other officers.	1960
Terence Frederick McFall	Constable, Metropolitan Police	For the bravery he displayed on 25 August 1966 when he and Constable Anthony John Gledhill chased and subdued armed criminals.	1967

1970s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
Geoffrey William Biddle	Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police	Awarded to Major Biddle for his "outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty" in defusing four terrorist bombs, on 5 & 6 January and 19 May 1974, and 9 November 1975.	1976
David Michael Clements	Constable, Metropolitan Police	Called to a bank raid and confronted by three armed robbers, the officer was shot at several times and wounded whilst chasing the suspects in St John's Wood.	1976
Henry Dowswell	Inspector, Metropolitan Police	With Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh, he was involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege.	1977
Arthur Howard Garner	Sergeant, Metropolitan Police	Pursued and overpowered a wanted criminal despite his ramming a police car, driving a car at the officers on foot, and firing a shotgun at the officers involved, in Shepperton.	1972
Peter Edwin Spencer Gurney	Warrant Officer Class 1, Royal Army Ordnance Corps	Awarded in recognition of outstanding bravery in Northern Ireland during the period 1 November 1972 to 31 January 1973. (see 1983 for award of bar)	1973
Mike Hailwood	Formula One Racing Driver	Hailwood pulled fellow driver Clay Regazzoni from his burning car during the 1973 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, setting fire to his own race suit in the process.	1973
Donald Victor Henderson	Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police	For defusing a bomb containing 25 lb (11 kg) of high explosive embedded with heavy metal coach screws on 13 October 1975. When later examined it was discovered that only two minutes to detonation remained on the timer.	1976
Michael Hills	Constable, Metropolitan Police	For his involvement in an incident involving a kidnap attempt on HRH The Princess Anne in The Mall, in which Inspector Jim Beaton was awarded the George Cross. PC Hills, despite having been shot in the stomach used his personal radio to contact Cannon Row Police Station reporting the situation and calling for assistance.	1974
Raymond Peter Kiff	Constable, Metropolitan Police	Involved in chasing, overcoming and disarming a PIRA terrorist after an explosion and shooting on a train near West Ham station.	1977
Frederick James Duncan MacLaughlin	Petty Officer Medical Assistant, Royal Navy	For rescuing an injured civilian during rioting in Belfast, after being shot, and having a bullet lodged in his throat, and refusing treatment until the civilian under his care had been treated first.	1971
Hugh David McCormack	Lieutenant (Acting Captain), Royal Army Ordnance Corps	In recognition of outstanding bravery in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August to 31 October 1972.	1973
Murtagh Phillip McVeigh	Sergeant, Metropolitan Police	With Inspectors Purnell and Dowswell, involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege.	1977
Gordon Meredith	Sergeant, Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary	Whilst attending a break-in at the premises of a firearms dealer, he was shot in the leg and severely injured, yet disarmed an intruder who had just shot and fatally wounded a fellow police officer.	1973
Edward Henry Nurse	Inspector, Royal Ulster Constabulary	On the evening of 25 May 1971, when a bomb was thrown into the reception hall of the Springfield Road Police Station, Nurse and two other officers rapidly evacuated everyone present. Nurse remained until satisfied that everyone was clear, then having taken two children as far away as possible he threw himself over them to shield them from the blast.	1971
Brian Ernest Walter Pawley	Constable, Metropolitan Police	In March 1978 he wrestled with an armed and dangerous man, after receiving a gun shot wound in the chest, while saving a colleague from death in Bethnal Green.	1979
David Purley	Formula One Racing Driver	For his attempt to save the life of his fellow driver Roger Williamson from a burning racing car during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.	1973
John Francis Purnell	Inspector, Metropolitan Police	With Inspector Dowswell and Sergeant McVeigh, involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege.	1977
Ronald George Russell	Area Manager, Exclusive Office Cleaning, London	He witnessed the attempted kidnapping of HRH Princess Anne, and tackled an armed man, who had already shot four men, punching him on the back of the head and face.	1974
Peter Slimon	Constable, Metropolitan Police	Slimon, an armed officer working for the Protection Service, was on his way to his post when encountered a bank robbery in progress. Inside the bank he confronted three armed raiders. One pointed a shotgun at him, and Slimon and the raider fired simultaneously. Slimon, although seriously wounded, then shot another raider as they ran out past him, then pursued them and saw them escape in a van. At this point more police officers arrived and Slimon was subsequently treated for gunshot wounds in his hands, arms and chest. Two of the thieves were wounded, one fatally.	1973
Emlyn Arthur Watkins	Inspector, Greater Manchester Police	On 1 July 1975 Watkins was shot in the stomach when he tackled three men who had pulled a gun in an Indian restaurant in Rusholme. When the men were arrested, it emerged they were part of a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit sent to assassinate North West VIPs. Watkins was seriously injured but survived. Five men, part of a Manchester-based PIRA unit, were arrested in the aftermath of the shooting and were jailed in 1976 for a total of 627 years.	1976
John Gaff	Lieutenant Colonel, British Army	Defused bombs at a railway signal box and on the railway track at Dunloy Halt, near Ballymoney, County Antrim, which involved nearly 15 hours of very hazardous work	1974

1980s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
John Edward Dillon	Able Seaman (Radar), Royal Navy, Ardent	On 21 May 1982, during the Falklands War, Dillon's ship was hit by bombs and he was knocked unconscious. When he came to he found that he was pinned to the deck by debris, the ship was on fire, and filling with thick smoke. Despite wounds to his back Dillon first freed himself, then another injured man trapped nearby, and pulled him to a hole in the side of the ship and into the water where they were both rescued by helicopter.	1982
Stephen Edward Farley	Constable, Metropolitan Police	For disarming a violent and mentally ill man who had made an unsuccessful suicide bid and then threatened to shoot the police officers who were called to the scene.	1980
Peter Edwin Spencer Gurney	Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police	Already MBE and GM (see 1973). Spencer was awarded a bar to his George Medal for disarming an explosive device on 26 October 1981, immediately after his colleague Kenneth Howorth had been killed by a similar bomb.	1983 40px
Paul Anderson Henry †	Second Engineer Officer, Royal Fleet Auxiliary	On 8 June 1982, after RFA Sir Galahad had been bombed by Argentine aircraft during troop disembarkation in Fitzroy Creek, the engine room quickly filled with thick black smoke. Henry gave the only breathing apparatus to a Junior Engineer Officer, who managed to reach safety, but Henry perished.	1982
Kenneth Howorth †	Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police	Killed on 26 October 1981 whilst dealing with a PIRA bomb in Oxford Street.	1983
Michael Julian Lakey	Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, No. 202 Squadron	The captain of Sea King HAR.3 helicopter which rescued 22 persons from the ship MV Finneagle which was on fire in a severe storm off the north of Scotland during the night of 1/2 October 1980.	1981
Trevor James Lock	Constable, Diplomatic Protection Group, Metropolitan Police	For "gallantry and devotion to duty of an extremely high order" during the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980.	1981
Andrew Clifford Parker	Assistant Bank Manager, Nippon Credit International	For acting as a human bridge for fellow passengers when the ferry MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized.	1987
David Hugh Pengelly	Sergeant, Metropolitan Police	Part of a team of officers protecting firemen during the Broadwater Farm riot in 1985, in which PC Keith Blakelock was killed. Blakelock and ten other officers were awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.	1988
Michael Ian Skippen	Head Waiter, MS Herald of Free Enterprise	Died while attempting to get passengers to safety when the ship capsized.	1987
Laurence Slater	Petty Officer Aircrewman, Royal Navy, 771 Naval Air Squadron	Slater was the duty diver of a Search and Rescue Wessex helicopter, which on 11 August 1985, in severe gale conditions, rescued a total of 29 persons from two yachts.	1985
Colin Townsley	Station Officer, London Fire and Civil Defence Authority	During the King's Cross fire of 18 November 1987 Townsley, with total disregard for his own safety, remained within the concourse without breathing apparatus to assist passengers to escape until he was overcome by intense smoke and heat.	1989
Chiu Yiu Nam	Seaman, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA Sir Galahad	On 8 June 1982, during the Falklands War, his ship was bombed at Bluff Cove. He ignored imminent orders to abandon the ship to rescue ten men trapped in a fire in the bowels of the ship.	1983

1990s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
Jack Crawshaw	Civilian	For trying to rescue a girl from an ice covered lake at Hemsworth, West Yorkshire.	1996
Eva Helen Dickson	Civilian, Aramoana, New Zealand.	Dickson was an elderly woman had recently had a hip replacement and was unable to walk unassisted, but after being shot at during the Aramoana massacre, she crawled on her hands and knees into her house to telephone for help, then crawled back out to assist a neighbour who had been shot, then crawled back inside to call emergency services a second time.	1990
Timothy Charles Rohan Goggs	Operations Officer, The HALO Trust	While engaged in mine clearing operations in Afghanistan, though injured himself, he re-entered a mine clearing tank that was on fire, to rescue colleagues. He died later in hospital from additional injuries sustained in the rescue.	1992
Royd Philip Kennedy	Senior Fire Fighter, New Zealand Fire Service	For rescuing a girl who was trapped underneath an overturned trailer loaded with petrol.	1992
Alan James Knapp	Detective Sergeant, Metropolitan Police	With Detective Sergeant Stephen Thomas, Knapp was involved in an operation to arrest armed men attempting to rob a Post Office. Both were shot and seriously wounded, but continued their endeavours to arrest the culprits.	1992
Michael Clive Mee	Station Officer, South Yorkshire Fire Service	For trying to rescue a girl from an ice covered lake at Hemsworth, West Yorkshire.	1996
Lisa Potts	Nursery Nurse, St. Luke's Church of England School, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton	For protecting children in her care from a machete attack.	1997
Stephen Thomas	Detective Sergeant, Metropolitan Police	With Detective Sergeant Alan Knapp, Thomas was involved in an operation to arrest armed men attempting to rob a Post Office. Both were shot and seriously wounded, but continued their endeavours to arrest the culprits.	1992

2000s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
Andrew Lee Barlow	Fusilier, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2006 to 31 March 2007."	2007
Kevin Charles Carter	Sergeant, Royal Marines	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2001 to 31 March 2002."	2005
Mark Davies	Officer with 29 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Search Group	Awarded GM after he neutralised numerous explosive devices in Northern Ireland where the risk to his own life was extremely high.	2003
Stuart Walter Dickson	Staff Sergeant, Royal Logistic Corps	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April to 30 September 2008."	2009
Paul Hartley	Lance Corporal, Royal Army Medical Corps	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April to 30 September 2006."	2006
Michael Liam Brady Miller	Firefighter, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service	In February 2005 a fire broke out in a 14th floor flat in Stevenage. Miller and Jeffrey Wornham went up first to assess the situation while their colleagues prepared equipment and water. When cries where heard from inside Miller and Wornham entered the flat and rescued a man, who indicated that his girlfriend was still inside. Both firefighters then re-entered the flat despite intense heat and zero visibility, but were killed. Both firefighters were awarded the GM posthumously.	2007
Gary O'Donnell †	Warrant Officer Class 2, Royal Logistics Corps	Bomb disposal expert who received the GM and Bar, and was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.	2006 2009 40px
Andrew Pennington	Councillor, Gloucestershire County Council	Died saving the life of Cheltenham MP Nigel Jones when they were attacked by a man with a samurai sword.	2001
Justin Michael Priestley	Captain, Royal Logistic Corps	For "conspicuous gallantry whilst engaged on explosive ordnance disposal work in the United Kingdom".	2000
Mark Jonathan Skipp	Colour Sergeant, Parachute Regiment	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2001 to 31 March 2002".	2005
Eliza Ward	Cafe Manageress, Belfast	Aged 18, she was fatally stabbed in the chest after she confronted a kitchen porter who was attacking the female owner of a city centre restaurant in July 1997.	2000
Jeffrey Richard Tristan Wornham	Firefighter, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service	In February 2005 a fire broke out in a 14th floor flat in Stevenage. Wornham and Michael Miller went up first to assess the situation while their colleagues prepared equipment and water. When cries where head from inside Wornham and Miller entered the flat and rescued a man, who indicated that his girlfriend was still inside. Both firefighters then re-entered the flat despite intense heat and zero visibility, but were killed. Both firefighters were awarded the GM posthumously.	2007

2010s

Name	Rank and Unit	Action/Citation	Year awarded
Martin Simon George Bell †	Private, Parachute Regiment	Awarded "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2011.	2011
Ian Andrew Dibell	Constable, Essex Police	Killed while attempting to disarm an armed and dangerous assailant whilst off duty.	2013
Mark J. Gold	Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps	For coming to the aid of a stranger who had been attacked, and also in confronting one of her assailants who had thrown her into a river and had been attempting to drown her in Cardiff on 16 February 2014.	2015
Paul Raymond Jacobs	Rifleman, The Rifles	Awarded "in recognition of gallant services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April to 30 September 2009.	2010
Karl Ley	Staff Sergeant, Royal Logistic Corps	Made safe 139 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the Taliban during a tour of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.	2010
Brett George Linley †	Staff Sergeant, Royal Logistic Corps	Awarded "in recognition of gallant services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April to 30 September 2010".	2011
Ian Thomas Molyneux	Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy Submarine Service	With complete disregard for his own safety, he deliberately made an effort to tackle a gunman on board HMS Astute. The shooting happened while Southampton's mayor, Royston Smith, and other dignitaries were touring the Royal Navy's hunter-killer nuclear submarine. He was shot in the head at very close range and died.	2012
Alistair Klaas Neill	Chief Executive, Southampton City Council	For tackling and subduing a gunman on HMS Astute.	2012
Andreas Oliver Peat MiD	Warrant Officer Class One, Royal Logistic Corps, 33 EOD Regiment	In January 2013 Peat was supporting a patrol of Danish Jaegerkorpset and Afghan National Police. After entering a compound in the Upper Gereshk Valley an IED was triggered, severely injuring a Danish soldier. Peat began to provide medical assistance, but then realized that the injured soldier was laying on another IED, and had to tunnel beneath the injured man to disarm the device. Peat then evacuated the compound which was littered with IEDs rendering safe another IED found under another team of soldiers	2013
Anthony Russell	Sergeant, Royal Marines, 771 Naval Air Squadron	For the rescue of two men from a capsized liferaft, of the yacht Andriette, 7 July 2011.	2013
Ryan Shelley	Marine, Royal Marines	Awarded "in recognition of gallant services in Afghanistan during the period 1 April to 30 September 2010".	2011
Daniel Marc Shepherd †	Captain, Royal Logistic Corps	Ammunition Technical Officer posthumously awarded the GM for clearing 13 IEDs by hand with no protective suit over a 36-hour period. Captain Shepherd was killed in Nad-e-Ali in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan on 20 July 2009.	2010
Royston Smith	Leader, Southampton City Council	With Alistair Neill, he helped disarm a gunman during the 2011 shooting incident on board HMS Astute.	2011

External links

• List of all WW2 Non Combat Gallantry awards