GEORGE CROSS

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1940, Page 3

GEORGE CROSS

British Awards RUGBY, December 4. The George Cross, ’the highest civilian decoration for gallantry, has been awarded to Arthur Merriman, part-time experimental officer attached to the research station of the Ministry of Supply. According to a Gazette notice, Merriman received the Cross for “conspicuous bravery in connection with bomb disposal.” and it is understood that, on several occasions, . he dismantled delayedaction bombs which had fallen in important streets and buildings. Among the military awards is the

D.S.O. to 23-year-old Pilot Officer Geoffrey Cheshire. This officer was carrying out photographic operations at Cologne, when a shell splinter detonated a flare just about to be dropped. Although the fire which followed the blinding explosion carried away a. considerable part of the fuselage, Cheshire managed to regain control of the plane, which had lost considerable height and was subject to intense anti-aircraft fire. He successfully piloted the damaged aircraft to the base.

The wireless operator of the aeroplane, Sergeant Henry Davidson, received the D.F.M. Although so severely injured by the explosion that he was unable to see, Davidson persuaded the rear-gunner to guide his burnt fingers to the wireless control, which he continued to operate un-

til he realised that the wireless had been put out of action. In spite of intense suffering, Davidson consistently refused to be landed at a station nearer than his own base.