Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘London Blitz’ George Medal pair awarded to Police Constable Walter G. Taylor, Metropolitan Police, late Royal Marine Light Infantry, for rescue work during an air raid in November 1940 when a high explosive bomb partly demolished a house in Onslow Gardens, Kensington, trapping several people

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter George Taylor) in its Royal Mint case of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (PLY.20442 Pte. W. G. Taylor. R.M.L.I.) together with St. John Ambulance Association Re-Examination Cross, bronze (444824 Walter G. Taylor) and a Middlesex County Amateur Athletic Assn. medal, silver and enamels (1926-7 Tug of War (100 Stone) 1st), good very fine (4) £3000-4000

G.M. London Gazette 9 May 1941. One of 82 awards to the Metropolitan Police, 1940-45.

The following recommendation was submitted by the Commissioner of Police, an abbreviated version of which was published in the London Gazette:

‘At about 7.45 p.m. 12th November 1940, a high explosive bomb fell at No. 26 Onslow Gardens, Kensington, partly demolishing the house and trapping several people.

Police Constable Taylor was off duty in plain clothes, and in the vicinity when the bomb fell. He immediately went to the house, and discovered that the rear had collapsed into the basement. Upon hearing screams, he went to the front part of the basement and assisted two women to safety; he returned and found in another room several Belgian women. These he escorted to other houses, and then informed that the father of one was buried beneath debris in the basement he again returned to the damaged house, obtained the assistance of a soldier and Air Raid Warden, and commenced searching the debris for the victim.

They made their way to the basement, part of which had collapsed under the weight of debris, and regardless of the possibility of a further collapse, pulled away pieces of masonry and brickwork in an endeavour to reach the man, whom they discovered almost completely covered with wreckage.

In the course of this work the constable had to support a large piece of masonry on his back whilst the other two rescuers pulled the wreckage aside. Whilst this was going on they heard somebody walking about in the passage above, and the P.C. shouted a warning that the ceiling would not stand up to the extra strain. It was too late however, as the ceiling suddenly collapsed on top of the rescuers partially burying them, and extinguishing the torch which the P.C. had been holding.

For a moment, Taylor was knocked insensible, but he quickly recovered and found that the soldier had been able to extricate himself but that the Air Raid Warden was apparently still unconscious and partly buried. By making use of water from a broken pipe, P.C. Taylor revived the man, and by using a “Fireman’s lift” carried him to the street leaving the Warden in the care of A.R.P. personnel. The P.C. then returned to the house, to continue the rescue work, but as he was entering the basement, he suddenly collapsed, and had to be taken to Brompton Hospital by ambulance. He was found to be suffering from concussion, shock and bruised muscles of the back, and had to remain on the sick list for 53 days.’

Walter George Taylor was born at Battersea, London, on 11 August 1900, and enlisted into the Royal Marines on 16 August 1918. His brief service qualified him for the British War Medal and he was discharged on 28 June 1922. He joined the Metropolitan Police on 4 August 1925, and was assigned to ‘W’ Division. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Testimonial on vellum ‘for having on the 30th April 1938, at personal risk gone to the rescue of a boy who was unfortunately drowned in the River Thames at Grosvenor Embankment, Pimlico, S.W.1, and whose life he gallantly attempted to save.’ Police Constable Taylor retired from the Metropolitan Police on 6 August 1950, and died at Battersea on 19 March 1974.

Sold with a good assortment of original paperwork including parchment certificate of service in Royal Marines, R.H.S. vellum Testimonial, Discharge Certificate from the Metropolitan Police, Passport, Last Will and Testament, various photographs and news cuttings, certificate for the Royal Society of St George, letters of congratulation from New Scotland Yard and the Home Office, besides additional research.