Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Swansea Blitz’ G.M. awarded to G. A. Peters, who was employed as a lorry driver for the Swansea Gas Light Company, and was rewarded for his bravery at the top of a flaming gas holder, pierced by an incendiary bomb, 21 February 1941

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (George Peters.) in card box of issue, nearly extremely fine £2,800-£3,200

G.M. London Gazette 28 March 1941, the original recommendation states:

‘During an air raid on Swansea a gas-holder was hit by high explosive and incendiary bombs. The holder was full of gas and a fierce flame was issuing from the pierced crown. To ascend to the top it was necessary to carry a ladder up a girder and rest it against the top of the holder. Without hesitation, Peters and Thompson [John Thompson, awarded a B.E.M.] volunteered to undertake the risk. They carried the ladder to the girder and, whilst Thompson straddled across it and held the ladder in position, Peters climbed to the crown, and extinguished the flame with clay. The action was particularly gallant as it was performed immediately after a very high explosive bomb had dropped just outside the site and demolished a portion of the boundary wall. The two men displayed courage and resourcefulness in very difficult circumstances.’

The following additional details are provided by the South Wales Evening Post:

‘Two employees of the Swansea Gas Light Company, George Peters, a lorry driver, and John Thompson, a foreman, receive the George Medal and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire respectively for great gallantry which they showed on the third night of Swansea’s blitz, while another employee, a watchman, E. J. Forword, has been commended for his brave conduct on the same night.

Mr. W. H. Johns, engineer and manager of the company, gave a graphic description of the men’s actions on this night to an “Evening Post” reporter today. It was Mr. Johns who communicated with the authorities recommending that recognition be given to the men for their bravery.

Early in the raid on the third night, said Mr. Johns, a large number of incendiaries fell in the company’s storage and distributing depot.

While employees who were on duty were dealing with fire bombs which were accessible, it was noticed that a flame approximately five feet in height was issuing from No. 4 gas holder crown, due to an incendiary bomb, and the flame lit up the holder, which presented a target.

At that time the holder contained gas to a height of approximately 67 feet. The holder itself was above the surrounding steel girders to a height of nearly 11 feet, and it was found that the holder ladder would only reach to the top girder.

This meant that a portable ladder would have to be drawn up and rested on the top of the girder, in order that the crown of the could be reached.

Without hesitation the two men, Peters and Thompson, rushed to the holder, climbed up the ladder to the top girder, drawing another ladder with them.

Thompson straddled the narrow girder and held the ladder while Peters climbed up to the holder crown. Then Peters dragged a bag of clay, which is kept in position on the holder crown, over the hole made by the bomb, thereby spreading the flames and making the target less distinguishable.

“The action was particularly gallant,” said Mr Johns, “as it was performed just after a very heavy high-explosive bomb had dropped just outside the company’s premises. Incendiaries and high-explosives were continually falling in close proximity.”

The prompt action of the men meant that they made less distinguishable from the air a flame which would have provided a good target, and they also prevented what might have been serious damage.

Mr Johns said that it was not the first time that employees had shown gallantry and resourcefulness, and in this case he had no hesitation in recommending the men for their action....

Peters received the vellum award of the Royal Humane Society for gallantry displayed in 1932. On that occasion he dived repeatedly into a gas holder tank in an effort to save the life of a lad who had stepped off a raft when repairs were being effected inside the holder.’

George Alexander Peters resided at 32 Garden Street, Swansea.

Sold with the following original documents: named invitation to Buckingham Palace investiture, dated 23 May 1941; photograph of recipient with his wife at the Buckingham Palace investiture; letter of invitation to recipient in order for him to become a member of The Royal Society of St. George, dated 19 August 1941; named Certificate for Honorary Membership in The Royal Society of St. George, dated 10 September 1941; and a copy of an article taken from the South Wales Evening Post, dated 29 March 1941