Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb Second War 1940 ‘London Blitz’ B.E.M. awarded to Mr. W. A. Still, Scrub Yard Attendant, Gas Light and Coke Company, London, for his gallantry in extinguishing a bomb that had fallen on top of a 60,000 gallon oil tank during the Incendiary air raid of 27 September 1940- during the height of the raid and in complete disregard of his own safety he climbed to the top of the oil tank, picked up the bomb with a shovel, and extinguished it. A single slip on the domed tank and there would have been no escape for him- he would have gone up in a sheet of flame.

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (Walter Alfred Still) extremely fine £600-800

B.E.M. London Gazette 24 January 1941:
‘During an enemy air raid a bomb fell on a large oil tank standing within a few yards of an important and valuable plant. The bomb had nearly burnt its way through the top of the tank when W. Still, a scrub yard attendant, realised the situation, and, hurrying up to the tank, seized a shovel and mounted to the top. He raced across the top, although it was 75 feet wide, slippery and domed, picked up the bomb on his shovel, re-crossed the top and climbed down to the ground, where he extinguished the bomb. All this was done during the height of the raid with gun flashes and burning bombs as the only illumination. But for Still's prompt action the damage would have been very much more extensive and the plant would have been wrecked.’

The original Recommendation gives further details and states: ‘Early in the morning or September 27th [1940], 25 Incendiary Bombs fell on the Gas Light and Coke Company’s Works at Kensal Green. Many of the bombs burnt out without causing damage; others, but for prompt action, would have had very serious results. One bomb fell on a large oil tank holding 60,000 gallons of oil and standing within a few yards of an important and valuable benzole plant. The bomb had nearly burnt its way through the top of the tank when W. Still, a 25 year old scrub yard attendant, who had nothing to do with the oil tanks, took in the situation. Hurrying up to the tank Still seized a shovel and mounted to the top. He raced across the top, although it was 75 feet wide, slippery and domed, picked up the bomb on his shovel, re-crossed the top and climbed down to the ground, where he extinguished the bomb. All this was done during the height of the raid with gun flashes and burning bombs as the only illumination. But for Still’s prompt action the damage would have been very much more extensive and the benzole plant would have been wrecked.
Still acted in complete disregard of his own safety. Had the bomb fallen through the top into the oil there would have been no escape for him- he would have gone up in a sheet of flame. He could not throw the bomb down once he had reached it, because there was so much oil lying about- he had to bring it back with him and deal with it on the ground.’

Walter Alfred Still was born in North Kensington, London, on 25 June 1901, and started work at the Gas Light and Coke Company, Kensal Green, soon after leaving school. For his gallantry there during the Incendiary attack on 27 September 1940 he was recommended for a medallic award by the General Manager of the company, who, in a letter to the Board of Trade, opined that perhaps Still’s action ‘... was sufficiently outstanding to merit the award of the George Medal.’ He died in Paddington, London, on 18 October 1958.

Still’s award featured in the 14 February 1941 edition of War magazine.