Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second War ‘London Blitz’ B.E.M. group of eleven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. A. Bartlett, General List, late Sub-Divisional Inspector, Metropolitan Police, and Royal Navy, who was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Silver Medal for rescuing ‘Roger’, a frightened Collie dog from a bombed out house in Battersea on 28 September 1940

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett); 1914-15 Star (J.25293 G. J. A. Bartlett. L. Tel. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.25293 G. J. A. Bartlett. L. Tel. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; United States of America, Medal of Freedom, bronze; R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, silver (Sub. Div. Insp. Bartlett. 1940.) with integral top ‘For Humanity’ riband bar, mounted for wear, generally good very fine and better (11) £800-£1,000

B.E.M. London Gazette 26 September 1941: Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett, Sub-Divisional Inspector, “L” Division, Metropolitan Police [in a joint citation with John Searle, Leader, Civil Defence Rescue Party, Battersea; and George Edward Thomas Smith, Leader, Stretcher Party, Civil Defence Casualty Service, Battersea]
‘Bombs demolished several houses under which people were sheltering. Inspector Bartlett made a tunnel ten feet long into the mass of unstable debris and found two injured women. He rendered first aid and then pulled them slowly out. Renewing his search he discovered more casualties whose injuries were such that under the direction of a doctor he administered morphia. He was joined by Leaders Searle and Smith. Owing to the confined space it was necessary for the three men to work lying down and while so doing debris and masonry were continually falling on them. After four hours’ strenuous effort six persons were released. Bartlett, Searle and Smith showed great courage and endurance.’

United States of America Medal of Freedom London Gazette 16 November 1948: Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett, B.E.M., General List
‘In recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies.’
The official citation states: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert J. A. Bartlett, British Army, performed meritorious service during August 1943 with the Allied Military Government in Sicily. Reports had arrived that there existed an epidemic of typhus on the island of Favignana, about 12 miles off the coast of Sicily. Colonel Bartlett volunteered to investigate. Accompanied by one soldier, he made his way through the heavily mined waters to this island where he found most of the population living in caves, under extremely bad sanitary condition and with an epidemic of typhoid fever. Colonel Bartlett so reorganized and improved conditions on the island that it no longer constituted any problem in Civil Affairs Administration. By his efforts on this hazardous mission he contributed materially to the success of allied Military Government in Sicily.’

Gilbert James Alexander Bartlett was born in Brighton on 31 October 1897 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 24 June 1913. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, predominately H.M.S. Dreadnought from 27 June 1914 to 21 April 1916 and again from 3 June 1916 to 31 March 1917, and was advanced Leading Telegraphist on 31 October 1916. He was shore discharged on 20 December 1919.

During the Second World War Bartlett served initially with the Metropolitan Police in Battersea, and was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Silver Life Saving Medal for his gallantry in rescuing ‘Roger’, a Collie dog, from a bombed out house, along with Police Constable E. P. Kerrison, and War Reserve Police Constable J. Entwistle, on 28 September 1940. This was part of a larger rescue mission, which contributed to the award of the George Medal to P.C. Kerrison, as detailed in the London Gazette of 15 November 1940:
‘On another occasion some premises were completely demolished by an H.E. bomb. Several persons were trapped under debris, two of whom were dead. P.C. Kerrison accompanied by an Inspector [Bartlett] and a War Reserve [Entwistle] entered the basement, the balustrade and steps of which were in danger of collapsing and the passage blocked by debris. They succeeded in rescuing a baby and two women through the side of the demolished shelter. The coping stones at the side of the steps collapsed whilst they were carrying a woman out of the basement. It was then discovered that another woman was on the top floor, all the rooms of which were exposed, the back and side walls being demolished and the front partially demolished. The P.C. obtained an old decayed ladder and climbed and entered the room rescuing the woman. Shortly after the rescue, further parts of the exposed floorings, and the frontage of the house fell away.’
During this rescue the three men carried ‘Roger’ to safety before the building collapsed. Roger, frightened by the bombing, had initially attacked his rescuers.

Bartlett was awarded the British Empire Medal for his gallantry in Battersea on 10 May 1941; he had earlier shown great gallantry on 16 April 1940 in rescuing various persons from a bombed and flooded house in the same vicinity. Subsequently commissioned onto the General List, he was ultimately advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient alongside Kerrison and Entwistle after they had rescued Roger; and copied research, including various eyewitness statements relating to his B.E.M.-winning exploits.