Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine ‘London Blitz’ George Medal awarded to Harold Percy Dingle, A.R.P. Rescue Party

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Harold Percy Dingle) extremely fine £1600-2000

G.M. London Gazette 25 July 1941. Awarded to Harold Percy Dingle and Frederick James Ward, Members of the A.R.P. Rescue Party, Stoke Newington, Hackney, London.

‘A H.E. bomb demolished licensed premises. Gas and water services were damaged causing flooding and a concentration of coal gas in the basement where two adults and a child were trapped.

Dingle, closely followed by Ward, crawled through a narrow opening in the debris and, although there was a serious danger of further collapse, managed to get into the basement, one of the external walls of which was in a dangerous condition. This was temporarily supported by forming a butress of cases. Clarke, in the meantime, enlarged the entrance hole and gave what assistance he could.

Owing to the continual fall of debris and the constant movement of barrels and cases, the task of releasing the casualties was extremely difficult.

Enemy aircraft were overhead, bombs were dropped nearby and the water rose to a depth of five feet. Portions of the building were in imminent danger of collapse and it was only by courageous and persistent efforts that Dingle and Ward, ably assisted by Clarke, were able to reach and remove the three casualties.

On returning to the open air the three men collapsed from the effects of coal gas poisoning and were removed to hospital.’

Medal in glass-fronted case.