Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Rescue Party Leader

Unit:

ARP Deptford, Air Raid Precautions (ARP), Home Office, British Government

Awarded on:

April 25th, 1941

"A high explosive bomb smashed a roadbridge over a railway line. A lorry was damaged and the driver thrown on to the rails below. On the underside of the bridge a broken gas main caught fire and was belching flame from each severed end, melting electric cable insulation and causing hot pitch to fall from the setts of the bridge. Despite the extreme danger, Leader Homer, accompanied by Pippin and Tyler, unhesitatingly descended with stretcher and slings to rescue the injured man, who was lying in the full force of the heat and under the falling pitch. Current from the live rail'was running through the wet debris to the metal stretcher, but despite the shock he received on contact, Horner succeeded in his task and, with the help of Pippin and Tyler was able to get the stretcher clear of debris to a position where it could be hauled up. The three men then conducted a search among the debris for a missing policeman, giving up only when it was learned that the man was safe."