Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Divisional Officer

Awarded on:

February 5th, 1946

Citation:
"During the operation of discharging a cargo of octane petrol from a tanker in Alexandria Harbour, Divisional Officer Ramsay was put in charge of special fire precautions. After three days on board the ship a sudden and unexpected underwater escape of petrol occurred. This was very shortly followed by a serious petrol fire in the harbour.
Immediately he detected the smell of escaping petrol, the Divisional Officer sent a signal requesting the tanker be taken to sea.
Shortly afterwards the petrol flashed on the water about 800 yards away from the ship and fire rapidly began to spread back to the vessel along the stream of petrol. Ramsay, immediately proceeded in a small open motor boat to the fire and drove his boat backwards and forwards through the stream of petrol and strong concentration of high octane gases in close proximity to the fire and was successful in breaking up the stream of petrol to the fire, and thus stopping the fire spreading back to the vessel. In doing this in intense heat he knew that the petrol vapour might have flashed at any moment, which could only have had fatal results to himself. He then supervised the initial fighting of the fire from the fire-boat before returning to the tanker to make arrangements for that ship to be got to sea at once. His very gallant action undoubtedly saved the vessel which still had about 9,000 tons of spirit on board, and prevented a major disaster.
Company Officer May was ashore at the time of the outbreak. Immediately he observed the fire he obtained a boat and in about ten minutes had taken charge of the fire-fighting from the fire-boat. In very close proximity to this blazing fire he worked with complete disregard of his personal safety, and after about twenty minutes the fire was under control and finally extinguished.
His courage and grasp of the situation very materially helped to prevent a serious conflagration."