Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

War Reserve Police Constable

Unit:

Metropolitan Police, British Police Forces, Home Office, British Government

Awarded on:

February 21st, 1941

"P.C. Robertson was driving a Police van with War Reserve Rippon as passenger, when a number of high explosive bombs fell nearby. Two xploded very close to the van which was considerably damaged and covered with debris. The officers were much shaken but not actually injured. Another constable arrived and reported that nearby premises had been demolished and that he believed people were trapped. All three officers at once went to the incident where they found a house completely wrecked except for a portion of the roof which was suspended at an angle of about 60 degrees from the party wall and in a very precarious condition.
Voices were heard coming from the debris and the. three officers, working together. succeeded in enlarging a small hole sufficiently to allow P.C. Robertson to enter the room in which the people were trapped. The atmosphere was very foul as there was a strong escape of gas mingling with the dust caused by the explosion.
P.C. Robertson found five persons in the room, four of whom were under beds, surrounded and heaped up with debris, and one entangled in the bed springs. P.C. Rippon then crawled in and helped Robertson to release the trapped people. The roof collapsed after the rescue work had been completed. Both these men have on previous occasions exhibited coolness and presence of mind under dangerous conditions and have been an excellent example to fellow officers."