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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 377

A fine - and early - London Blitz B.E.M. awarded to Mr. J. A. Ambrose, a civilian worker for the Metropolitan Police: his sustained gallantry in Rotherhithe in September 1940 attracted wide praise from his police colleagues

British Empire Medal (Civil), G.VI.R. (Joseph A. Ambrose), officially impressed naming on pre-prepared ground, good very fine

B.E.M. London Gazette 25 April 1941:

'During enemy air attacks, Mr. Ambrose has always been ready to accompany rescue parties going to scenes of damage. At all times of the day and night he has absolutely refused to be deterred from sharing the risks that necessarily fall upon those who conduct such operations. On many occasions, quite voluntarily, Ambrose has assisted the Police in rescue work, often at risk to his own life.'

Joseph Adrian Ambrose was aged 37 and employed as station cleaner at Rotherhithe Police Station at the time of the above cited deeds.

As confirmed in the lengthy recommendation for his award (T.N.A.: HO 250/19 refers), and in A Wander Through Wartime London: Five Walks Revisiting the Blitz, his B.E.M. stemmed from a series of supporting submissions made by officers at station, including Inspector Cornelius Carson:

'On 7 September 1940, I was patrolling the Deptford and Rotherhithe Station areas during the period of intense enemy action against the Surrey Docks District. On arriving at the junction of Redriff Road and Lower Road, I was met by a party consisting of Police Sergeant 36 M. Finn, three P.Cs and Mr. Ambrose, the station cleaner at Rotherhithe, who to my surprise had joined the rescue party. I asked him what he was doing and he replied, "Anything I can to help, Sir." This would be about 11 p.m., and I learned from P.S. Finn that the party had been engaged in searching the Redriff Estate, which was encircled by fire … bombs were constantly falling in the area and in fact on several occasions it was necessary to throw oneself flat on the roadway to avoid being injured when high explosive bombs fell close by … '

Another report was submitted by Police Constable Arthur Brown, in which he described Ambrose's gallantry amidst falling bombs and shrapnel on the night of 15 September 1940 - today better known as 'Battle of Britain Day':

'At 11.40 p.m., I was on duty at the front door of Rotherhithe Station when a high explosive bomb fell on the roof of Platform Wharf at the rear of the station. I was detailed to proceed at once to the bombed building where about 1,000 were sheltering. Mr. Ambrose, who is always standing by and ready to help, came with me at once. The building was on fire and debris was falling into Cathay Street, along which we had to pass. All the people from the shelter were evacuated safely to other public shelters in the vicinity and Ambrose was conducting parties through the streets despite the fact that bombs were still falling and shrapnel from anti-aircraft batteries in Southwark Park was dropping in the area. The evacuation was completed without a single casualty. On numerous occasions Mr. Ambrose has insisted on accompanying me when he could have remained in the station under cover.'

Additional reference sources:

A Wander Through Wartime London: Five Walks Revisiting the Blitz, by Clive Harris and Neil Bright (Pen & Sword Military, 2010).



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Sold for
£700