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.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Chief Regional Fire Officer

Unit:

No. 8 (Wales) Region, National Fire Service

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1947

LG 37835/12.