Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Member

Unit:

A.R.P. Rescue Party Manchester

"Four people were trapped alive in the cellar of a dwelling house which had been completely demolished by a H.E. bomb. The rescue squad were able to locate two people, a man and his wife. After sawing through rafters and beams, they were eventually released. The opening from which the two casualties had been extricated was about 6 ft. in depth and 2£ ft. across. Two children were still underneath the debris. Webster immediately volunteered to attempt a rescue and was lowered head first into the hole, being held by the legs with a rope by men on the surface. He burrowed his way with his hands and brought to the surface a child about twelve months old. He then went down again in the same manner, still burrowing his way with his hands, and rescued a second child of about three years of age. Debris was falling constantly, and just after the second child had reached safety, tons of rubble and masonry fell, closing up the hole in which Webster had been working. Webster showed great gallantry in the successful rescue of the two babies."