Description
George Medal, GVI, John Kerr M.M., Home Guard, Air Raid Precautions Casualty Service, Portsmouth, a decorated WWI Veteran and holder of the Military Medal for Bravery.
Medal on original ribbon with sewn on ribbon pin for wear, in fitted Royal Mint case of issue.
Officially engraved: “John Kerr. M.M.”
Official citation from the London Gazette, 30th May 1941:
“Raymond Wickens, Section Leader and John Kerr, M.M., Member, A.R.P. Casualty Service, Portsmouth.
Bombs demolished houses on both sides of a road. A man was trapped in a crater on the edge of which was a fiercely burning building.
At grave risk Wickens and Kerr attempted a rescue. The wind changed and they were driven off by the flames.
The two men succeeded in freeing several persons who were trapped in cellar shelters, and whose houses were burning above them. They then returned to the crater and made a further attempt to release the trapped man from the debris which was very loose and every moment might have precipitated them to the bottom bringing tons of debris and rubble down on them.
Mr Kerr, by exerting all his strength, managed to move some heavy beams which pinned the casualty.
He supported these with his body and thus enabled Mr Wickens to obtain a firm hold on the casualty and between them they got him out.”
The full recommendation from the Home Guard recommendation records:
“CASE 1080B, F.A. Party Member John Kerr, 45 years old, C/O A.R.P. Depot 5, Kent Street School, Kent Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hants.
Casualty Service, Portsmouth – 4 months.
Civil Occupation – Labourer
Previous Honours and Awards: Military Medal, 1914.
Recommended by – Portsmouth Town Clerk and Controller.
No 6 Southern Regional Commissioner recommended – George Medal.
Particulars of action:
A statement from Police Sergeant Donohoe:
“At 2.30 Hours on 10th of March last I was informed that a High Explosive bomb had fallen in Frederick Street, Portsea, causing a large crater in the road and demolishing houses on both sides, resulting in some persons being trapped.
Later a First Aid Party from Kent Street, NO 5, A.R.P. Depot arrived.
No rescue party was in attendance owing to the fact that all these services were already engaged in various parts of the city.
The leader of the First Air Party immediately organised his men and commenced rescue work and were successful in rescuing a civilian from under the debris.
The crater concerned was a few feet from the Dockyard Electricity station which, owing to direct hits from High Explosive and Incendiary Bombs, was a raging inferno.
Part of the debris from demolished houses was also on fire, and it was with the greatest difficulty owing to smoke and flame that they carried out the rescue. I consider that the work of this party, especially that of the leader, Mr Wickens, and a Mr Kerr, heroic and worthy of recommendation.”
