Description
Object description
Extensive series of forty five diaries kept from the 1930s until his death in 2006 including during his service in the RNVR during the Second World War. Educated at Leigh grammar school and King's College London, he graduated in 1936 with a BSc Gen (Hons), and a BSc (Hons) in physics in 1937. He gained a teaching diploma in 1939, and became a teacher. With the outbreak of war, Bridge, a pacifist by inclination, but recognising the use of his scientific background in saving lives, volunteered his services. In June 1940, Bridge was interviewed, commissioned into the RNVR and given a week's bomb familiarisation. On July 2, assigned as a bomb safety officer in the Plymouth-Falmouth area he defused his first bomb. During that tour of duty the bomb disposal teams under his command dealt with more than 100 unexploded devices. Bridge's first George Medal, gazetted on December 27, was awarded for his calm courage in making safe a bomb known to be fitted with a delayed action fuse. As the raids intensified, Bridge personally dealt with 50 unexploded bombs dropped during raids on Plymouth in March 1941. For his work in making safe a particularly difficult double-fused bomb with an anti-handling device, he received a King's Commendation for brave conduct. On May 17, Bridge dealt with a bomb lying in some 6ft of water at the bottom of a sluice valve chamber between two of docks at Falmouth. Bridge climbed down the shaft, slid a cable through a hole in the casing and got the bomb winched clear of the water. He then guided the device away until he was able to disarm the bomb. Working in a shaft more than 30ft below ground level, Bridge knew full well that had the bomb exploded there was no chance of escape. For what the citation called his 'cold courage', he was awarded a Bar to his George Medal - the first person to be so awarded. Bridge was subsequently drafted to the naval base at Simon's Town in South Africa, where he underwent diving training and from there was sent to the Mediterranean. But by June 7 1944 he was at Arromanches supervising the clearance of the D-Day landing beaches. Sent to Antwerp to work on harbour clearance in September 1944, Bridge found himself summoned to deal with a number of specially designed charges the Germans had floated down stream on the River Waal, one of which was lodged against the pier at the Nijmegen end of the road bridge, holding up the advance of General Brian Horrocks's 30 Corps. Bridge, finished the war as a Lieutenant Commander. He was one of only two men, both bomb and mine disposal officers, awarded the George Cross, George Medal and Bar. In 1947 he became Assistant Education Officer for Southport. In 1963, he was appointed Director of Education for Sunderland.
Content description
Extensive series of forty five diaries kept from the 1930s until his death in 2006 including during his service in the RNVR during the Second World War. Educated at Leigh grammar school and King's College London, he graduated in 1936 with a BSc Gen (Hons), and a BSc (Hons) in physics in 1937. He gained a teaching diploma in 1939, and became a teacher. With the outbreak of war, Bridge, a pacifist by inclination, but recognising the use of his scientific background in saving lives, volunteered his services. In June 1940, Bridge was interviewed, commissioned into the RNVR and given a week's bomb familiarisation. On July 2, assigned as a bomb safety officer in the Plymouth-Falmouth area he defused his first bomb. During that tour of duty the bomb disposal teams under his command dealt with more than 100 unexploded devices. Bridge's first George Medal, gazetted on December 27, was awarded for his calm courage in making safe a bomb known to be fitted with a delayed action fuse. As the raids intensified, Bridge personally dealt with 50 unexploded bombs dropped during raids on Plymouth in March 1941. For his work in making safe a particularly difficult double-fused bomb with an anti-handling device, he received a King's Commendation for brave conduct. On May 17, Bridge dealt with a bomb lying in some 6ft of water at the bottom of a sluice valve chamber between two of docks at Falmouth. Bridge climbed down the shaft, slid a cable through a hole in the casing and got the bomb winched clear of the water. He then guided the device away until he was able to disarm the bomb. Working in a shaft more than 30ft below ground level, Bridge knew full well that had the bomb exploded there was no chance of escape. For what the citation called his 'cold courage', he was awarded a Bar to his George Medal - the first person to be so awarded. Bridge was subsequently drafted to the naval base at Simon's Town in South Africa, where he underwent diving training and from there was sent to the Mediterranean. But by June 7 1944 he was at Arromanches supervising the clearance of the D-Day landing beaches. Sent to Antwerp to work on harbour clearance in September 1944, Bridge found himself summoned to deal with a number of specially designed charges the Germans had floated down stream on the River Waal, one of which was lodged against the pier at the Nijmegen end of the road bridge, holding up the advance of General Brian Horrocks's 30 Corps. Bridge, finished the war as a Lieutenant Commander. He was one of only two men, both bomb and mine disposal officers, awarded the George Cross, George Medal and Bar. In 1947 he became Assistant Education Officer for Southport. In 1963, he was appointed Director of Education for Sunderland.
