Label
Lieutenant Robert Davies RE, was awarded the GC for his part in the successful removal of an unexploded German bomb which fell close to St Paul's Cathedral on the night of 11-12 September 1940. The bomb, which had buried itself to a depth of over twenty-five feet, took over three days to remove and, during the operation, Davies and his colleagues were hampered by fire from ruptured gas mains and ran the risk of electrocution from damaged cables. Medal citation (supplement ot the London Gazette, 27 September 1940 - dated 30 September 1940): 'Lieutenant Davies was the officer in charge of the party detailed to recover the bomb which fell in the vicinity of St. Paul's Cathedral. So conscious was this officer of the imminent danger to the cathedral that regardless of personal risk he spared neither himself nor his men in their efforts to locate the bomb. After unremitting effort, during which all ranks knew that an explosion might occur at any moment, the bomb was succesfully extricated. In order to shield his men from further damage, Lieutenant Davies himself drove the vehicle in which the bomb was removed and personally carried out its disposal.'
History note
Association - date of award: first announcements of the award of the George Cross were made in the London Gazette of 30 September 1940. Alderson was the first recipient and Davies the second. Sapper Wylie also received the George Cross for his part in the defusing of the St Paul's bomb: (London Gazette) 30/9/1940
Association - related items: one of a group of 3 medals; acquisition aided by a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Acquisition: purchase aided by a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund
Physical description
plain Greek cross (arms of equal length) in silver. On the obverse, St George (on horseback) and the dragon within a central raised roundel surrounded by a circlet bearing the text 'FOR GALLANTRY'. At the base of the circlet a small Tudor rose. The whole superimposed upon an edged cross. In each angle formed by the arms of the cross a small 'GVI' cypher. The cross is suspended from a straight (laurelled) bar and the ribbon is dark blue, often referred to as 'Garter' blue. This Cross is named and dated on the reverse to: 'Lieut.ROBERT DAVIES, R.E. 30th September, 1940'.
Engraved, reverse, centre
Lieut.ROBERT DAVIES, R.E. 30th September, 1940
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