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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 715

An outstanding 'Christmas Blitz' 1940 B.E.M. group of three awarded to Constable W. George, Manchester City Police

British Empire Medal, Civil Division, G.VI.R. (William George); Coronation 1953; Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Const. William George.), good very fine (3)

B.E.M. London Gazette 21 March 1941:

'During an enemy air raid PC George went to several places where unexploded time bombs had fallen. He displayed a calm devotion to duty, making thorough observations and arranging for the evacuation of persons within the danger area. At one such incident the bomb exploded, and the Constable was blown against a wall by the blast. Despite the shock he refused to go off duty and gave valuable help at other incidents.'

William George was born at Frosna, Monmouthshire on 28 December 1898 and was a tinworker furnaceman upon his joining the Manchester City Police on the 18 February 1925. He had previously served some 1 year 326 days in the Royal Navy.

The great industrial output of Manchester made it an ideal target for what became known as the 'Christmas Blitz'. We turn to the IWM for more details:

'Manchester was attacked by German bombers on the night of 22-23 December and again the following night, 23-24 December. The pattern of hitting cities on consecutive nights was a tactic increasingly used by the Luftwaffe to inflict maximum disruption and destruction on its targets. On the first night of raids, 272 tons of high explosive bombs were dropped. The following night another 195 tons of high explosives hit the city. Almost 2,000 incendiaries were also dropped on the city across the two nights. One side of Manchester Piccadilly, as shown in this photograph, was almost completely destroyed in the raids.

During the air raids on 22-24 December, 600 fires were started by incendiary bombs over the two nights. Blocks of commercial and warehouse premises – as shown in this photograph – were particularly badly hit, with many completely burnt out. Unfortunately, many of Manchester's 3,500 full and part-time fire fighters and Civil Defence workers had not returned from Liverpool where they had been sent several days before to help fight fires caused by air raids there. As a result of these raids [including others in September 1940], an estimated 684 people died and more than 2,000 were injured.'

Thank goodness for George being on the scene. He was married on 30 October 1943 and was pensioned on 27 December 1958.


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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£420