Lt Eric Russell Raby.
75/6 Bomb Disposal Sections.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 17th December 1940.
Awarded for an action in Manchester.
Lt Raby who was commanding the 75/6 BD Sections, was injured whilst dealing with a 250kg bomb fuzed with a No 17, this was ticking. Raby was able to remove the fuze, however before he could remove the gaine it exploded, causing severe injuries.
135034 Lt Fredrick Radford.
4 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 22nd July 1941.
Awarded for action in East Anglia between May 1940 and March 1941.
No further details at this time.
135035 Lt Daniel Hunter Ramage.
81/82 Bomb Disposal Sections.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 11 March 1941.
Awarded for a action at Messrs Pilkington Bros Works, St Helens, Lancashire on the 4th September 1940.
Called to the Pilkington Works Lt Ramage discovered a bomb had penentrated a concrete floor to a depth of twelve feet. On reaching the bomb it was found to be so badly damaged that the fuze could not be removed. The location of this bomb meant that vital war production was being held up. So a novel approach was adopted, he unscrewed the filler cap and removed the TNT fill till he could reach the fuze pocket and withdraw it. For conspicous courage, coolness and ability to adapt to various situations, Ramage was awarded the George Medal.
135046 Lt Douglas Stanley Fredrick Rayner.
9 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 22nd January 1941.
Awarded for actions at: Aircraft Factory, Castle Bromwich, Staffordshire on the 3rd September 1940 and at a Factory, Yardley, Birmingham on the 6th September 1940.
The aircraft factory had been closed down, due to six unexploded bombs being found on its premises. Lt Rayner set his men to work and within half a day all six had been uncovered and defused.
Two days later at another factory he removed a 250kg bomb. This had a ticking 17 fuze, it was badly damaged around the fuze pocket, by its journey through concrete. Rayner had to use a Marlinespike to remove the fuze. This took him thirty five minutes, the fuze could have detonated at any time.
2127158 L/Sgt James Baird Renfrew.
3 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 19th November 1943.
Awarded for actions at Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Linconshire between 14th and 22nd June 1943.
On the 16th June L/Sgt Renfrew went to the small yard at the rear of the Salvation Army Hall, to investigate an S.D.2 (Butterfly Bomb). He found a pile of sandbags, the ARP wardens had misunderstood instructions and covered it with sandbags. He removed the top layer and cut through the lower ones, so as not to disturb the device, till he could view it. A charge was placed upon it and detonated, the only damage, a small window broken.
On the 19th he defuzed a bomb, which he thought had failed to arm itself as he was working he heard it arm,. He was fortunate that he was able to remove the fuze and throw it away. Luckly the gaine made of bakelite was broken and stayed in the bomb, minimising the explosion. However he did suffer a few pieces of copper embedded in his hand.
The 21st saw him dealing with a bomb insecurely balanced on a bed at 27 Campden Road, however he managed to move the furniture and destroyed the SD2 by a controlled explosion.
Lt Brian Leolin Richards.
25 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 8th July 1941.
Awarded for actions at: Yorkshire Grey Dance Hall, Westhorne Road, Eltham Green, London between 28th April and 3rd May 1941.
Lt Ricky Richards, had a dodgy bomb to deal with. During the digging operations, he had to withdraw the men from the shaft, the problem water and gravelly ground. The soft ground was covering the bomb, Richards continued the digging himself. The fuze a 17, started ticking, then stopped, this happened intermittently. Due to the bombs location a road junction had been closed for nine days, therefore it was decided to destroy the bomb in situ, if it stopped ticking for any length of time. This happened and Richards made up the charge, the bomb was by now under three feet of muddy, gravelly water, therefore the operation was dangerous and his actions gallant. The charge was placed and the bomb exploded, no serious damage was caused due to the tamping effect of the water. Richards had worked non stop for eighteen hours, never risking his mens lifes, but taking the isks himself.
General Taylor commented, "I consider that this is an outstanding example of cold-blooded courage and determination for which the award of the George Cross would apear appropriate."
However the George Medal was awarded instead.
166532 Lt Kenneth Hugh Robinson.
3 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 28th July 1944.
Awarded for actions at: Norwich area on April 1943, Raveningham between the 24th to 26th September 1943, Swatlow Airfield 6th October 1943 and areas of the Norfolk coast during October and December 1943.
After a rain in late September, on Norwich, Lt Robinson disposed of seventy nine S.D.2's in a heavily wooded area around Raveningham. Locating them was difficult due to thick undergrowth, also it made identification hard, this was needed so a decision to attach a cord or place a charge could be made.
Soon after another BD Officer was killed and another injured, by it is believed a new fuze the Y. Robinson was then put in charge of all BD Operations in the area. During this period he uncovered and immunised seven 500kg bombs, all fitted with sensitive fuzes. For these actions and minwfield clearance operations he was awarded the George Medal.
152400 Lt Horace Cecil Ruth.
14 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 13th January 1942.
Awarded for actions at: Yorkshire, Bridlington Railway Station on the 16th February 41, Quiblings Yard, Hull on the 27th March 41, Central Fire Station, Priestmans Factory, all in Hull and the Railway at Flambourgh on the 18th July 1941.
Lt (Babes) Ruth, dealt with a Category A bomb at Bridlington Railway Station, arriving at 10.00 hrs, digging starting at 11.00hrs. On uncovering the bomb it was found to be a 250kg, the fuze was of the 17 type and a 50. The fuzes were immunised and bomb made safe. The station reopened by 18.00 hrs on the same day.
Ruth on the 27th March, dealt with another Category A bomb at Quiblings Yard, again a 250 kg with two ticking 17 fuzes. The bomb was uncovered and removed to the bomb cemetery, it exploded shortly afterwards.
At the Central Fire Station, Hull, Ruth during a heavy air raid was called to investigate a bomb. He discovered this was one of a stick of four, one had exploded previously. The fire appliances inside were needed, so Ruth stood by the entry hole and directed the vehicles to safety. Ruth then left to investigate anothe bomb at Priestmans, and the bomb at the fire station exploded shortly after he left. The bomb at Priestmans was a 500kg, Ruth and Sgt Quarendon dug down to it, it was four feet down and the fuzes could not be identified, as the tops had been torn off. So the bomb was immediately placed on a truch and driven off, the factory was back in operation by 09.30hrs the same day.
