L/Sgt Andrew Sanders.
9 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 30th September 1941.
Awarded for actions at: Nechells Gas Works, on the 20th November 1940 and Delbran Road, Sparkbrook on the 2nd February 1940 both in Birmingham.
On the night of 19th November a 250kg bomb fell close to the condensers at the gas works. The BD Company were informed at 06.30 the next day. L/Sgt Sander in charge of a section was sent to deal with it. He had been injured twice before and dealt with five Category A bombs. The bomb was reached and immunised by 12.30 that day.
71764 Capt Thomas Henry Sharman.
9 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 30th September 1941.
Awarded for actions at: Gec Works, Electric Street, 19th October 40, BSA (Tools), Small Heath, 13 to 14th December 40, Wolseley Motors Factory, Coventry Road, 10th April 40 all in Birmingham.
Capt Sharman at 03.00 hrs took his section to the GEC Works at Witton. A heavy air raid was in progress. The bomb had fallen at half twelve that night, after some fast digging the bomb was uncovered a no 17 fuze removed all by 09.30 hrs in the morning.
At 01.30hrs on the 12th December Sharman, recieved a call, a UXB had been found at the BSA Works, on arrival they searched for the bomb this took some time and work didnt start till 03.00hrs this continued till the 14th at 14.00hrs when they reached the bomb. The fuze a no 17 was identified and removed, all the time they were working on the bomb a air raid was in progress and other bombs fell near by.
The 10th April saw Sharman at the Wolseley Works. A 250 kg bomb with a no 17 and 50 fuzes was discovered. As a Category A bomb speed was of a essence, this type of fuzes bomb could explode up to eighty hours after it had been dropped. It was also holding up vital war work it was removed within fourteen hours.
16227 Lt Robert Sharp.
3 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 19th November 1943.
Awarded for action at: various sites in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Linconshire between the 14th and 22nd June 1943.
Lt Sharp was the first officer to arrive on a task, one of the first jobs was a bomb which was holding up the traffic on two railway lines as well as part of a Power Station. These were SD2's (Butterfly Bombs), with anti handling devices. By 16.30 hrs Sharp had disposed of ten of these devices and services were back in operation. The next day he was wounded in the hand and leg, after dealing with eight devices. This was caused by a sympathetic detonation of a undiscovered device. Although injured he continued to work untill the next day when the Commanding Officer ordered him to report to the hospital. Kept in hospital till the 19th, he resumed work on the same day, from then till the 20th he defused thirty two bombs and detonated fifteen more. On the 21st he disposed of one hundred and thirty more at Calethorpe Farm, Louth.
120604 Capt Clifford Percy Shelbourne AMInstCE.
4 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 22nd July 1941.
Awarded for work in East Anglia and Cheshire between June 1940 and March 1941.
No further details at this time.
4456425 Sgt Frank Cecil Simpson.
3 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 19th November 1943.
Awarded for work at various sites in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Linconshire between 14th to 22nd June 1943.
Sgt Simpson personally dealt with 43 SD2's (Butterfly bombs) in one week in June 43, during this period most of the Company Officers and Sgts were in the Grimsby area. A typical ways he had in dealing with them was: in Hainton Methodist Church, one was on was inside the panelling of the organ. He removed somepanelling and placed a hook around the device, he was then able to remotely remove the bomb. It did explde during the operation but only minor damage was caused, the organ escaped undamaged. On the same day at 86 Fairmont Street, he found a device in the front room, he removed the furniture and fittings then removed the device. One other device was found on a rockery, rather precariously balanced, so he built a wall of straw bales round it and detonated it. Although the house was only five feet away no damage was caused.
4067723 CSM Francis Sivil.
14 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 2nd February 1945.
Awarded for work at Laing's Shipyard, Sunderland, Co Durham Sheffield, Yorkshire on the 12/13th August 1940 and 13 to 16th December 1940.
No further details.
Lt. E.W. Sivil.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 2nd February 1945.
Awarded for work in Sussex.
Lt Sivil was called away from mine clearance work, We had invaded France and the V1 attacks were at their height, only a few of these exploded. Sivil was dispatched to immunise on in 20 Bomb Disposal Company's area, (Kent and Sussex). This was his first, the only information he had was what he had read, in BD instructions. These instructions were sent round as updates to the Germans latest tricks. So with the instructions and his own expertise he dealt with it succesfully. For this and his minefield work he was awarded the George Medal.
CSM F. Smith.
14 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 21st October 1941.
Awarded for work in Sunderland.
Between the 13 and 16th December CSM Smith and his men rushed around checking out reported UXB's. Each night another raid, and more work. He also during this period with his men uncovered and made safe six 250kg bombs, all fitted with No 17 long delay fuzes, one of these was partially buried next to a petrol storage tank. For this and work earlier in Sunderland he was awarded the George Medal.
Capt James. B. Smith.
Awarded for work at Mersa Matruh between the 27th May and 12th September 1941.
Capt James undertook the most hazardous in investigating, defuzing, removing and destruction of several hundred enemy UXB's. These were of all shapes, sizes and weights, the largest being 1000kg. One was found twenty feet down, another at twenty eight. He dealt with two 250kg bombs on the 29th December, if these had gone of several buildings would have been demolished. He also later made safe two Italian mines. In all case Smith was the first on site.
He was awarded the George medal for displaying gallantry and continued devotion to duty and bravery.
119053 Capt Charles Coulton Stewart.
9A Bomb Disposal Group.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 30th September 1941.
Awarded for work at: Youngs Accumulater, Kingston, Surrey on the 15th August 1940 and Cricketer's Public House, London Road, Mitcham, Surrey on the 22/23rd September 1940.
No further details at this time.
1883145 L/Cpl Ernest Wilfred Suttle.
9 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 30th September 1941.
Awarded for work at: English Electric Test Laboratory, Stafford, 9th October 40, Aeroplane Assembly Shop, Humber Hilman Factory, Coventry, 19th November 40 and Olton Boulevarde, Acocks Green, Birmingham on the 16th December 40.
After just a month in BD L/Cpl Suttle was working on a 250kg bomb at a Test Lab, it had fallen at 11.00 hrs, he and his party arrived at 15.330 hrs. When uncovered it was found to be fuzed by a 17 and 50 type fuzes and armed. The section officer immunised the 50 but could not remove the 17, so he and Suttle, gently moved the bomb to a safe area.
Suutle was in charge of a working party, went with his Section Officer to the Humber Hilman Factory. Two 250kg bomb were reported, They were about seventy yards apart, during the morning one exploded killing two of the working party. Despite this Suttle continued to work on the other bomb, by 15.00hrs that day it had been identified, the fuze imunised and the bomb was safe for removal.
In Birmingham, Suttle was working on a suspected UXB. A camouflet was discoverd and one man fell into the crater, he was overcome by the fumes. Sutton with no thought for his own safety, put a rpe round himself and jumped into the crater., which was full of Carbon Monoxide. He tied another rope around the casualty and they were both pulled out. Both men suffered form carbon monoxide poisoning but recovered.
232126 Lt Warner Charles Swinson.
3 Bomb Disposal Company.
Posted in the London Gazette on the 15th September 1944.
Awarded for actions at: Chelmsford, Essex, April/May 42, Colchester, Essex and Helmingham, Sussex, December 43, Harlow, Essex, December 43.
Lt Swinson was taked with clearing SD2's (Butterfly Bombs) in Chelmsford. He and his section quickly cleared the area, Swinsons personal total was fourty devices. He later cleared another fourty three on heathland.
In December in Harlow, Swinson was in charge of dealing with four 500 kg bombs fitted with the new Y fuzes. Two were detonated in situ the other two had to be rendered safe. He personally dealt with the first and supervised the second operation. For theses actions and mine clearance work he recieved the George Medal.
