Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Defence Medal awarded to Air Raid Precautions Rescue Party Member Mr. A. Dore, who received a King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct for his gallantry in rescuing the inhabitants of a bombed house in Streatham, South London, on 11 January 1941

Defence Medal, in card box of issue; together with two King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct plastic pin-backed badges, in card box of issue; two King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct silver laurel leaves, in card box of issue; and the recipient’s A.R.P. silver lapel badge, extremely fine (6) £300-£400

K.C.B.C. London Gazette 16 May 1941: Albert Dore, Member, A.R.P. Rescue Party, Wandsworth.

The official citation for the British Empire Medal awarded to Frederick Charles Bell in the same Gazette, who led the rescue attempt, states:
‘Bombs demolished several houses and the occupants of one house were buried under many tons of masonry. This mass of debris was pressing against the walls of the next house which was wrecked and leaning over. The whole of this wreckage was visibly slipping and the walls cracking.
The Rescue Party, under the leadership of Mr. Bell, set to work to tunnel through a tottering wall. At every step it had to be shored to prevent complete collapse. The people were trapped under floorboards and rescue was impeded by a piano which was both pinning down the victims and at the same time preventing the floorboards from crushing them. Despite the steadily widening cracks in the walls and the increasing danger from the moving wreckage, the Rescue Party continued to work for nine hours and succeeded in bringing out six casualties.’

Sold together with the recipient’s King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct in Civil Defence Certificate, in OHMS envelope, addressed to ‘Mr. Albert Dore, 173 Eardley Road, SW16’; Central Chancery enclosures for the emblems; two London County Council letters of congratulations; HQ London Civil Defence Region letter of congratulations; copy of the London Gazette announcing the award; and other ephemera.