Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War G.M. pair awarded to Mr. W. Mills, Foreman, A.R.P. Mains Repair Squad, Stretford and District Gas Board, for gallantry during an air raid on Stretford, near Manchester, on 7 May 1941

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter Mills); Defence Medal, mounted court style as worn, extremely fine (2)
£2000-3000

G.M. London Gazette 11 July 1941 (in a joint citation with Joseph Thomas Hughes, Member, A.R.P. Mains Repair Squad, Stretford and District Gas Board):
‘During an air raid Mr. Mills and his squad were sent to attend to a broken gas main. On arrival he was warned that it would be very dangerous to carry out the repair as a large time bomb was within ten yards of the damaged main. As there was a large volume of escaping gas, Mills and his assistant Hughes unloaded the mobile trailer cart for the necessary tools and sent it to safety. They then got down into the crater and effected temporary repairs which took half an hour. Both men showed initiative and cool courage as in addition to the grave danger from the unexploded bomb of which they had full knowledge, H.E. bombs were dropped near to them whilst they were working.’

Walter Mills was awarded his George Medal for his gallantry in repairing a gas main on King Street during an air-raid on Stretford, near Manchester, on 7 May 1941- the nearby Trafford Park and Salford Quays were a major centre of War production and was bombed by the Luftwaffe on a number of raids during the War, the heaviest being over the period 22-24 December 1940 (the Christmas Blitz), when 73 people were killed in Stretford, and again on 11 March 1941, when bombs destroyed most of Manchester United Football Club’s ground at Old Trafford.

Sold together with the recipient’s A.R.P. lapel badge.