154
A fine London Blitz G.M. awarded to George Davis, a Trunks Mains Inspector for the Gas, Light & Coke
George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (George Davis), in its card box of issue, extremely fine £2000-3000
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G.M. London Gazette 11 July 1941. The joint citation states:
‘During an air raid gas mains were fractured. Bradley and Davis, followed by Bell and Potts, drove through a rain of incendiary bombs to the spot. The ignited gas rose in a column of flame which swayed across the road, and buildings on both sides were alight. It was necessary to shut down the valves of two mains. The men travelled back to the valve on one main and shut it. In order to keep vitally important industrial areas supplied, they changed over the high pressure supply of gas. They were warned that a time bomb lay not far from the valve of the second main. The area was unsafe and all the people around had been moved out. Nevertheless the valve was successfully closed, but it was realised that unless still another valve was closed the flames could not be extinguished. This lay within fifteen yards of the time bomb. All four men fully realised the grave risk that they ran, but without hesitation, and although H.E. bombs continued to fall in the surrounding streets, they went ahead and completed the task.’
After dark on the night of Wednesday 19 March 1941, the Luftwaffe launched a massive attack on London, 479 aircraft delivering 470 tonnes of H.E. bombs and 122,000 incendiaries. The attack lasted from 2010 to 0158 hours and, in the opinion of some of the most experienced Luftwaffe crews, was the greatest yet achieved. In addition to ‘some 750’ fatalities, a further 1,100 people were seriously injured.
Sold with a copy of the Gas, Light & Coke Company’s Co-partners’ Magazine, July-August 1941 edition, which contains a feature reporting on the above described incident.
George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (George Davis), in its card box of issue, extremely fine £2000-3000
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G.M. London Gazette 11 July 1941. The joint citation states:
‘During an air raid gas mains were fractured. Bradley and Davis, followed by Bell and Potts, drove through a rain of incendiary bombs to the spot. The ignited gas rose in a column of flame which swayed across the road, and buildings on both sides were alight. It was necessary to shut down the valves of two mains. The men travelled back to the valve on one main and shut it. In order to keep vitally important industrial areas supplied, they changed over the high pressure supply of gas. They were warned that a time bomb lay not far from the valve of the second main. The area was unsafe and all the people around had been moved out. Nevertheless the valve was successfully closed, but it was realised that unless still another valve was closed the flames could not be extinguished. This lay within fifteen yards of the time bomb. All four men fully realised the grave risk that they ran, but without hesitation, and although H.E. bombs continued to fall in the surrounding streets, they went ahead and completed the task.’
After dark on the night of Wednesday 19 March 1941, the Luftwaffe launched a massive attack on London, 479 aircraft delivering 470 tonnes of H.E. bombs and 122,000 incendiaries. The attack lasted from 2010 to 0158 hours and, in the opinion of some of the most experienced Luftwaffe crews, was the greatest yet achieved. In addition to ‘some 750’ fatalities, a further 1,100 people were seriously injured.
Sold with a copy of the Gas, Light & Coke Company’s Co-partners’ Magazine, July-August 1941 edition, which contains a feature reporting on the above described incident.
Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
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If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
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If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
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If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
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