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Civilian Gallantry List
The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards of the George Medal and The Queen’s Gallantry Medal and for the publication in The London Gazette of the names shown below as having received an expression of Commendation for Bravery.
GEORGE MEDAL
William Deacon (deceased)
Anthony John Doherty (deceased)
QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDAL
Derek Hill
QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVERY
Ian Paul Churms
Patrick Rowan Harris
Max Lorenz Camillo Neill-Gordon
Michael Peter Roxby
Antoni Ambrose Smith
Peter Chalkley Smith
Stephen John Bentley
Paul David Heap
Paul Geoffrey Stubbles
Paul Anthony Williams
Andrew Mark Weatherill
24th March 2000
Notes for Editors
Full citations for the George Medal and The Queen’s Gallantry Medals are attached. More information about these awards and fuller details of the Commendations can be obtained as follows:
Deacon, Doherty, Neill-Gordon - Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Press Office (Tel no 0207 890 3150)
All other names - Home Office Press Office (Tel no 0207 273 4610)
GEORGE MEDAL
William DEACON (deceased). Lately Winchman, Search and Rescue Helicopter.
For his actions during the rescue of the crew of a shipwrecked cargo vessel.
On 19 November 1997, Mr Deacon was a member of a Search and Rescue helicopter team called to assist the crew of a cargo vessel which had suffered engine failure and was drifting helplessly in a severe storm off the coast of Shetland. There were 15 crew members on board. While attempts to rescue them by a lifeboat and two other vessels enabled five crew members to be taken off, the extreme sea and weather conditions, with 30ft waves and surface winds of between 50 and 70 knots, prevented further attempts by the rescue craft. A helicopter was called to the scene.
An initial attempt by the helicopter commander to winch up two injured crew members was abandoned as the vessel was rolling badly and close to shore. However, once the tug had managed to secure the cargo vessel’s anchor it halted the drift to shore and rescue operations re-commenced. Mr Deacon, the winchman, was lowered to the deck to supervise the airlifting of the 10 remaining crew members. He detached himself from the winch and secured himself to another safety line. Three lifts, each of two crew members, were successfully completed before the anchor cable parted and the vessel once again drifted rapidly towards the shore.
A further lift was completed before the vessel ran hard against rocks and rolled heavily to one side. Mr Deacon and the last two crew members were engulfed by a wave, but he was able to attach them to the winch. The vessel’s Master and the last crew member were airlifted to safety, leaving Mr Deacon alone, some 15 minutes after he had first been lowered to the deck.
At this point, the vessel, already unstable, began to roll violently, up to 60º either side of the vertical, and Mr Deacon was swamped several times by waves. Before the winch could be lowered again, he was washed into the sea. He then suffered the full impact of being thrown against the vessel and lost his life. His body was recovered the following day.
Anthony John DOHERTY (deceased). Lately Boatman, Fast Rescue Craft.
For his actions during the attempted rescue of a man who fell into the sea from a North Sea gas rig.
On 19 February 1998, a maintenance team was present on a gas rig 110 miles off Aberdeen conducting a routine inspection. Two men were examining the lower underdeck in the breakwater area when one of them fell through a hole in the walkway into a partially enclosed area of water. Although he was wearing a life jacket, the turbulence of the water and the effects of the cold quickly fatigued him. Within a few minutes, he was floating helplessly, unable to grasp the lines and rope ladder dropped to him by his colleagues on the deck above.
As soon as the alarm had sounded, a Fast Rescue Craft was launched. Its crew managed to get the boat close to the rig, but were unable to gain access to the man through the protective “Jarlan wall” which could be crossed only through a series of 1.5 metre holes. At this point, despite the two-metre sea swell, Mr Doherty, a member of the Fast Rescue Craft crew, climbed into one of the holes in the wall and attempted to throw a line to the man. When this failed, he dived into the enclosed water and managed to reach the man, who was now unconscious. He tried to swim with him to the side wall, but the water was too rough and was flowing fast from outside through the holes in the wall and he lost his grip on the man. The unconscious man drifted away from him and Mr Doherty again swam after him and tried to put a Perry Buoy (life ring) over his head. By now Mr Doherty was himself struggling. Various attempts by others to help Mr Doherty and the other man failed, and Mr Doherty then lost consciousness.
The co-pilot of a helicopter supporting the maintenance team volunteered to try to rescue the two men. He was wearing a survival suit, which afforded him some protection from the effects of the cold water, and a life jacket. Attached to a safety line, he climbed down a ladder to the surface of the water, and with the help of others was able to bring up Mr Doherty and the other man. Unfortunately, both Mr Doherty and the man he had tried to rescue were later declared dead from exposure in the bitterly cold water.
THE QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDAL
Derek HILL. Civilian.
For his actions in the prevention of an armed robbery at a Post Office.
On the morning of Monday 7 July 1997, an armoured security van arrived at a Post Office to make a cash delivery. A security guard was delivering cash bags in security boxes to a staff office entered through a security door at one end of the service counter. The Post Office manager, Mr Hill, opened the door for the security guard each time he made a delivery. During this delivery, there were at least 20 customers waiting to be served, and four counter staff, in the Post Office.
The security guard successfully made three journeys into the office. As Mr Hill opened the security door for a fourth delivery, a man suddenly came up behind the guard from one of the counter queues. He pushed the security guard into the office and entered behind him brandishing a handgun. He then aimed the gun in the direction of members of staff and demanded that he be given the cash bags and security box.
Without hesitation, Mr Hill lunged forward and seized the gunman’s arm. A violent struggle ensued as they grappled together, during which the gunman tried to take aim at Mr Hill. Mr Hill managed to force the arm that was holding the gun towards the ceiling. It was at this point that the gun fired, and the gunman threatened to shoot Mr Hill who maintained a hold on the gunman whilst the struggle continued. The gun then fired a second time, but Mr Hill still held on and managed to punch the gunman in the stomach with his free hand. The gunman then attempted to escape and pulled away from Mr Hill towards the partially open security door. As he did so, he stumbled in the doorway and Mr Hill managed to close the door, trapping the gunman’s leg as he lay with his body on the other side of the door. He had lost his grip on the gun in the fall and struggled to get free. However, staff and customers helped Mr Hill to keep the gunman trapped in the doorway until police officers arrived and arrested him.
THE QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVERY
Ian Paul CHURMS. Police Constable, Northamptonshire Police.
Patrick Rowan HARRIS. Detective Constable, Northamptonshire Police.
For actions during the course of an armed incident in which lives were threatened.
Max Lorenzo Camillo NEILL-GORDON. Helicopter Pilot.
For his actions during the attempted rescue of a man who fell into the sea from a North Sea gas rig.
Michael Peter ROXBY. Detective Constable, Norfolk Constabulary.
For his actions in preventing an attempted armed robbery of a building society.
Antoni Ambrose SMITH. Constable, Sussex Police.
For his actions during the course of an armed incident during which lives were threatened.
Peter Chalkley SMITH. Inspector, Greater Manchester Police.
Stephen John BENTLEY. Constable, Greater Manchester Police.
Paul David HEAP. Constable, Greater Manchester Police.
For their actions in chasing and arresting a man armed with a sawn-off shotgun.
Paul Geoffrey STUBBLES. Fire-fighter, Somerset Fire Brigade.
Paul Anthony WILLIAMS. Fire-fighter, Somerset Fire Brigade.
For their actions in saving the life of a woman who had fallen into a river during severe flooding.
Andrew Mark WEATHERILL. Fire-fighter, North Yorkshire Fire Brigade.
For attempting to save the life of a child trapped inside a car that had become submerged in a flooded quarry.
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