George Wyllie
Born(1908-12-25)25 December 1908
Hurlford, Scotland
Died1 February 1987(1987-02-01) (aged 78)
Tower Hamlets, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1939–1943
RankSapper
UnitRoyal Engineers
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsGeorge Cross

George Cameron Wyllie,[1] GC (25 December 1908 – 1 February 1987) of the Royal Engineers was awarded the George Cross for the heroism he displayed on 12 September 1940 when a 1,000-kilogram (2,200 lb) bomb fell near St Paul's Cathedral in Deans Yard. It took three days to dig the bomb out of soft soil, work made even more dangerous by a fire at a fractured gas main. Wylie and his team placed the recovered bomb on a lorry, which was driven to Hackney Marshes, where the bomb was detonated, leaving a crater 100 feet (30 m) wide.[2]

The citation from a supplement to The London Gazette of 27 September 1940 (dated 30 September 1940) reads:[3]

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.

St. James's Palace, S.W.1, 30th September, 1940.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the GEORGE CROSS to the undermentioned:—

[...]

No. 1942531 Sapper George Cameron Wylie, Royal Engineers.

Sapper Wylie was a member of the Bomb Disposal Section engaged upon the recovery of the bomb which fell in the neighbourhood of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The actual discovery and removal of the bomb fell to him. Sapper Wylie's untiring energy, courage, and disregard for danger were an outstanding example to his comrades.

References

  1. ↑ Wyllie's name was misspelt "Wylie" in his London Gazette citation, Michael Ashcroft, George Cross Heroes, 2010
  2. ↑ "1942531 Sapper George Cameron Wylie. Bomb Disposal: Royal Engineers—George Cross". 33 Engineer regiment, RE website. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  3. ↑ "No. 34956". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 September 1940. pp. 5767–5768.

Further reading

  • Owen, James (2010). Danger UXB. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-1-4087-0255-0.
  • Jappy, Melanie (2001) Danger UXB Channel Four Books. ISBN 0 7522 1938 3
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