Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Aircraftman 2nd Class

Awarded on:

February 25th, 1941

"During a heavy air raid an A.F.S. crew were endeavouring to release a woman and child who were pinned against the basement wall of a demolished building by an iron girder. Fire was raging at the time and the whole building had collapsed upon the basement, out of which therefore there was no exit. The woman and child could be plainly seen down the side cellar wall and frantic efforts were made to release them, as the heat was intense and the smoke suffocating. Numerous members of the A.F.S. had given valuable assistance, but the combination of the heat and smoke had caused them to become exhausted. At this point, Aircraftman Dews took up a position full length on the debris and dug away with his hands at the rubble surrounding the woman but could not make a very substantial hole as the way was blocked by a dead body, an iron girder and baulks of timber. It was evident that the only thing to do was to get into the hole which had been made and try to release, at least, the child, because the heat and smoke were becoming more intense. Aircraftman Dews immediately volunteered. He forced his body, head foremost into the hole, but several times he had to extricate himself on account of the heat. This was overcome by playing the hose upon him actually as he was in the hole. At last he reached the child and crawled back with her in his arms. Dews then freed the woman, who was pulled out of the hole. Shortly after their release the fire spread to the spot where they had been trapped."