About the product

George Medal Manchester Blitz 1941

£3,995.00

George Medal GVI, Frank Jacques, Works Manager in a Manchester Factory when it was hit by the Luftwaffe, he evacuated the wounded took charge of the fire fighting and saved the day.

In stock

Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

Description

George Medal GVI, 1st Type, Frank Jacques, Works Manager in a Manchester Factory when it was hit by the Luftwaffe, he evacuated the wounded took charge of the fire fighting and saved the day. 

 

Officially engraved: “FRANK JACQUES”

 

The medal was awarded in the London Gazette, 18th April 1941.

 

It was announced with the following recommendation:

 

“When the Factory premises were damaged and on fire as a result of enemy action, Mr Jacques took charge of the fire fighting and arranged for increased water supplies, thereby preventing much damage to the Works.

 

He also organised the rescue work and despite difficulties succeeded in evacuating the injured.

 

Jacques worked unceasingly in conditions of grave danger and showed great devotion to duty in a most difficult and hazardous situation.”

 

The award was echoed around the British Newspapers, The Guardian on 19th April 1941 featuring his award under the title “Manchester Works Manager Wins George Medal.”

 

 

Frank was a Manchester Man, being born there on 11th June 1899.

 

On the 1939 Census he is shown as a 40 year old “Warehouseman, Textile Industry” living at 30 Market Street in the city centre of Manchester, now the main shopping street in the City where the Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre is.

He was living there with his widowed Mother Mary Ann and Wife Lena.

 

It was recorded on the census that he was also doing double duty as an “Air Raid Precautions Warden B1093 Volunteer”.

 

Frank enjoyed a long life and died in his native Manchester during 1985.

 

 

The George Medal is still going strong today, in it’s lifetime of 84 years, it has only been awarded 2122 times, about half of them to Civilians such as Frank Jacques.

 

The first recipients were announced in the London Gazette on 30th September 1940.

 

Manchester was a recipient of various visits from the Luftwaffe, during the Manchester Blitz of 1940-1942. As the city was an important port and industrial city, Trafford Park especially was a major centre of wartime production making it an appealing target.

 

https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/the-manchester-blitz/

 

The Air Raids over Manchester began in August 1940, in September 1940 they hit the Palace Theatre on Oxford Street.

 

The Heaviest toll would be taken in the Christmas Raids of 22nd and 23rd Decmber 1940, which killed about 684 people and would injure more than 2000.

Amongst the damaged buildings were Manchester Cathedral, the Royal Exchange, the Free Trade Hall and the Manchezters Assize Courts.

 

On 22nd December, 272 tons of high explosives were dropped over the city, the next day another 195 tons. Almost 2,000 Incendiary bombs were also dropped over the 2 nights of terror.

 

A further raid came on 11th March 1941, when Old Trafford, the famous home of Manchester United FC Football Calub was hit by a bomb which had been aimed at the industrial complex in nearby Trafford Park, which wrecked the pitch and demolished the stands.