George Cross (GC) “For acts of heroism and courage of extreme danger”.

Wg Cdr Leon H Harrison – Feb 1940 the grain carrier SS Kildare was attacked by German aircraft and limped into Immingham docks, 6 sailors had been killed.  A team deployed from the nearby BD school and were faced with a 250kg bomb embedded between the decks, after electrical discharge the locking rings were removed with the handles on a pair of pliers and the fuzes eased out with a penknife. These were the first fuzes removed from 250kg bombs in World War 2.  This was the first GC to be awarded after being instituted by Royal Warrant in 1940.

Wg Cdr J S Rowlands – Jun 1943 Snaith Bomb dump explosion, a 1000 Lb bomb in the fusing shed functioned, 18 were dead followed by secondary explosions, sensitive No 37 long delay and No 845 anti-movement fuzes were fitted on dispersed bombs. After a soak of a few days bombs where dealt with case by cease some using IGOL.

Sqn Ldr H Dinwoodie OBE MC – Aug 1945, Awarded for disarming 11 bombs in Lubeck. At another incident in Steenockerzeel, Belgium, in 1946 he dealt with 22 further bombs in bitterly cold conditions over three weeks.

Sqn Ldr E L Moxley – 27 Aug 1940 2 x UXB’s were reported at RAF Biggin Hill, sadly he was killed during the RSP and buried in the churchyard at St Peter and St Paul, Cudham, Orpington, Kent. He invented the Fuze extractor as extraction of the fuze after discharge was initially conducted by hand and was later “booby trapped”. 

Flt Lt W H Charlton – Aug / Sep 1940 BD duties in Gloustershire and Wiltshire where he dealt with reportedly 200 bombs in the latter part of the year and later was a prisoner of war in Java from 1942-45. He was also renowned for leading understanding of Japanese bombs and fuzes some of which he returned to the UK for exploitation.

Flt Lt J N Dowland    For his work with Wg Cdr Harrison described above in Feb 1940 on the grain carrier SS Kildare at Immingham dock. He later lost his life in Malta in Jan 1942.

George Medal (GM) “ For acts of great bravery”. 

WO E G Hunt             1940, seriously injured at Biggin Hill when Sqn Ldr Moxley died.

WO E G Alford          1940, exceptional work at RAF Kenley, Biggin Hill and North Weald.

WO J V Saunders     1940, exceptional work at RAF Kenley, Biggin Hill and North Weald.

WO D Bishop             1942, for BD work in Malta.

Flt Lt H Dickinson     1942, for BD work in Malta.

WO J T S Stevens     1944, USAF Station Wendling, Norfolk after removal of eight long delay anti-withdrawal fuzes from 8 500 Lb bombs (first operational use of IGOL).

Sgt K Lythgoe            (515738) Based at Upper Heyford, various tasks Jul, Aug, Sep 1940.  This included a dig to a depth of 40 ft over 8 days. 

AC2 R Nicholson      (1300504), as per the task with Sgt Lythgoe.

AC2 A Simpson         (998918), as per the task with Sgt Lythgoe.

Cpl R N Garred          For actions at the Lurbeck explosion Oct 1945.

Sgt D Rodgers           For actions in Gulf 1 when he rescued two injured children from a minefield during hostilities.

Queens Gallantry Medal (QGM) “For special acts of bravery”.

Flt Lt   T Costick        Jul 74, Turkish invasion of Cyprus, The first line EOD team at Akrotiri were called to UXBs left by Turkish air attacks.  In a hotel in Famagusta a US made 750 Lb bomb made safe using IGOL on the 6th floor, he received his investiture in 1975.

Flt Lt A Swan        1982 Op CORPORATE Falkland Islands, when the rear of the hospital complex at Ajax bay was bombed. Two bombs exploded killing five and wounding 26 personnel, one UXB was located on the hillside and blown safely, however two hours later a further two UXBs were discovered one buried in a refrigeration unit and one in the roof space previously used for accommodation.  Both were of an unknown type and posed a threat to the hospital area of the building, it was decided to leave them in situ (some mitigation measures were put in place) to allow the operating room to continue functioning. To give the staff and patients confidence in the decision the RAF EOD unit slept in the hospital.

FS  Knights    1982 Received Mentioned In Dispatches (MID) for his work during Op CORPORATE.

Chf Tech D Lowe      2011 Op Herrick , for actions including dealing with over 19 IED tasks over 3 days while on operation TOR SCHEZADA, this resulted in over 350 Kg of insurgent explosive from IED’s been recovered.

Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Sqn Ldr T M Clark     Lurbeck 1946

Member of the British Empire (MBE)

Sqn Ldr J A Reed

Flt Lt R C Rulf

Flt Lt J C Rutter

Flt Lt V H B Marshal

Flt Lt J M Waters

Flt Lt G A Tottey

Flt LT F J Durrant

Flt Lt D Kempson

Flt Lt E S T Tout

Chf Tech A Barlow

British Empire Medal (BEM)

AC1 Halton

Chf Tech H Fogg

FS D J Clarke

Sgt S P J Mulholland

SAC J B Stacey

Chf Tech S Wilson

FS A Russell

FS D Andrews

FS E M Blake

Chf Tech K L Crowle

FS E K Tumman

Sgt P J Herrington

Mentioned in Dispatches (MID)

FS Doc Knights

Queens Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)

Chf Tech Nick Pounder

Queens Commendation for Bravery (QCB)

Jnr Tech Thorne

SAC Soppet-Moss

Chf Tech Barlow

Disclaimer:

* all details taken from Operational Honours Board located at RAF Wittering.