"Harrison" AIR 2/6170

Case No 4.

Saturday NEWS CHRONICLE January 4, 1941

BOMB EXPERT WINS GEORGE CROSS: MEDAL FOR PHONE GIRL

A BOMB expert has been awarded the George Cross for dealing with unexploded German bombs. He is Leonard Henry Harrison, a civilian instructor at an R.A.F. armament training school. He wins the award “for acts of exceptional coolness and courage on several occasions”. A ship arrived in port with a live bomb wedged halfway through the main deck. The bomb was fitted with a fuse of a then unknown type. He helped to make it harmless. About a month later he gave similar assistance in rendering safe unexploded German bombs.

BY PRIVATE STUDY

Mr. Harrison's assistance was of particular value because, by his own initiative and private study, he had become an authority on the fuse and ex- ploder systems in enemy bombs. Born at Devonport in 1906 he lives at Moorings, Grimbsy Road, Louth; is married and has one son. He served in the R.A.F. for 12 years.

A Coventry works manager, Ernest Hancock, receives the British Empire Medal. He assisted in rescue work, although injured. Several London rescue workers receive the George Medal. Over- come by Gas, Bernard Bennie, of Lewisham, was dragged out of debris where eight people were trapped. He revived and resumed work.

After four persons had been recovered alive he was again gassed, but resumed with enemy planes bombing all the time.