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Blackstone, Geoffrey Vaughan

Nationality:
British

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Divisional Officer
Unit:
London Fire Brigade, National Fire Service
Awarded on:
August 1st, 1941
Citation:
"A high explosive bomb demolished a building leaving one wall in a tottering condition. Five members of the Fire Service were on beds on the ground floor of the building and were entombed under the debris which was supported by iron girders inclined against the damaged wall. Bombs were falling in the district at the time and the blast made the wall sway dangerously. Mr. Blackstone, fully realising the extreme danger of the wall falling, began to burrow into the debris. He worked continuously with his bare hands for about four hours in darkness and foul atmosphere and released three of the victims. In order to extricate them, he had to take the weight of a girder on his shoulders while passing debris back between his legs. Mr. Blackstone displayed conspicuous courage and suffered considerably from the effects of the gas and bad atmosphere in which he had been working. The totlering wall fell soon after the rescues had been effected.

LG 35233/4416-4417.
George Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Chief Regional Fire Officer
Unit:
No. 8 (Wales) Region, National Fire Service
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1947
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

LG 37835/12.

Sources

  • - Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th July 1941, Issue 35233, dated 1st August 1941
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 31st December 1946, Issue 37835, dated 1st January 1947

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