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Talbot, Ellis Edward Arthur Chetwynd

Date of birth:
March 22nd, 1920 (Newport/Shropshire, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
October 9th, 1941 (Sicily)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Catania
Plot: 1. Row: H. Grave: 19.
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
103rd Bomb Disposal Section, Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army
Awarded on:
September 17th, 1940
"On 24-25th August, 1940, Lieut. Talbot after being present for the whole time (12 hours) taken to dig down to an unexploded bomb, diagnosed, on the bomb being brought to the surface, that it was of the delay action type and ordered his men to a safe distance while he examined it. As the bomb appeared to be of a new type, Lieut. Talbot decided to remove it to a place where it could do no damage if it exploded. Still keeping his men under cover, he carried the bomb on his shoulder for some 200 yards and placed it in a safe spot. From the start of the work there was a risk of the bomb going off and Lieut. Talbot set a fine example of courage and devotion to duty."

Replaced by the George Cross less than a week later.
Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
103rd Bomb Disposal Section, Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army
Awarded on:
September 17th, 1940
George Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting 1st Lieutenant
Unit:
103rd Bomb Disposal Section, Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army
Awarded on:
May 27th, 1941
"Lieutenant Talbot has displayed courage and resource of the highest order. He has been in charge of all bomb disposal work (at MALTA) for the last three months and has invariably done the most dangerous work himself. He has personally disposed of some fifty bombs, representing about sixty tons, of which twenty had to be done soon after dropping, when there was a grave risk of delay action or booby traps. He has inspired his men by his constant example of calm courage and efficiency.

He was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for work in connection with bomb disposal."
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

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