Description
George Medal, GVI, William Mason.
A selfless award for risking his life with no guarantee of his safety during the Salford Blitz, 42 Year old William Mason of Park-Street, Swinton volunteered to pump out the 500 Gallons of Oil when a bomb had fallen straight into the well, the process took 5 hours and at any point the time bomb could have exploded and with 500 gallons of Oil, caused a massive disaster, only shortly after finishing the Pumphouse exploded.
He was presented the George Medal at the investiture in October 1941.
Announced in the London Gazette on 20th June 1941;
William Mason, Process Hand, Salford.
“During an air raid a time bomb penetrated a storage well containing 500 gallons of oil. In order to facilitate the removal of the bomb it was necessary for the oil to be pumped from the well.
Mason immediately volunteered his services and commenced operations from a pump house situated about twelve feet from the well.
He completed the work and an hour later the bomb exploded, demolishing the pump house in which he had been working.
Mason knew that the bomb might explode at any moment, and he carried out a hazardous task with commendable courage.”
