Reed, Henry Herbert

Date of birth:: 1911 (Sunderland, United Kingdom)
Date of death:: June 21st, 1941 (On board SS Cormount in the North Sea)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Bishopwearmouth Cemetery
Row: G.C.. Grave: 939.
Nationality:: British

Biography

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George Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Bombardier
Unit:: No. 2 Battery, 1st. Maritime Anti-Aircraft Regiment, ss Cormount, British Merchant Navy
Awarded on:: September 19th, 1941

While sailing in convoy from Blyth to London on 20th/21st June 1941 the SS Cormount was attacked by E- boats and aircraft and although sustaining a direct hit under the navigating bridge amidships, replied at once with defensive armament. Bombardier Reed was badly wounded but refused to leave his anti-aircraft gun. Then, seeing that the Chief Officer was also badly wounded, the bombardier carried him from the bridge down two ladders to the deck below and put him in a shelter, before falling dead himself.

Gunner Reed's George Cross is currently held by the National Army Museum, Chelsea, London, Great Britain. Henry Reed received his George Cross posthumously.