Lot 4747

Description

George Medal, (GVIR Indiae Imp). Edward Hector Bent. Engraved. Uneven toning on obverse due to removal of double sided tape, otherwise extremely fine.

GM: Supplement to LG 31/12/1940, p45.

Edward Hector Bent, A.R.P. Rescue Party Leader, Leyton.

'During an air raid a bomb fell causing a crater about 15 feet deep and entirely demolishing three houses, while only a party wall of another was left, this being in a dangerous condition. The premises were three storey buildings, and there were persons trapped in two of them.

Six live and two dead persons were recovered from one house after exhausting rescue work by two parties, considerably hampered by debris continually falling down the sides of the crater.

Six people were on the ground floor of another house when the upper floors crashed down carrying the ground floor about half way into the cellar. This made rescue work slow and difficult as there was danger of further collapse. Some hours later four casualties, suffering only from shock, had been removed by one rescue party. The floor then dropped about two feet leaving two casualties, an elderly man and his wife, trapped by the legs with dangerous debris hanging over them and covering them almost completely. The squads worked unceasingly, hampered many times by further falls of debris. The last casualty was not finally released until after some hours. Great difficulty was experienced in releasing the last victim as she could only be reached along a narrow tunnel.

All the personnel engaged worked well but particular mention is made of G. Bolton, who worked on the extraction of casualties from two houses and who by very hazardous operations provided tunnels through which the medical and first aid men made contact with the casualties, and E.H. Bent, who worked unceasingly, and was himself responsible for releasing three casualties.'

There is an oil on canvas painting of E.H.Bent GM painted by Henry Lamb in 1942 and held by the Museums Sheffield.

With copy of gazette page.