Awarded the George Medal: — Bernard Joseph Bennie, Leader of A.R.P. Rescue Party, Lewisham. On the night of 6/7 September 1940 Leader Bennie and his party were called out to an incident. Houses on Engleheart Road in Catford S.E.6 had been demolished by an H.E. bomb, and eight persons reported trapped. During the exploration of the ruins, Leader Bennie received a severe electric shock, but got together his party and commenced rescue work. A heavy concentration of coal gas was present and soon Bennie was incapacitated. He was dragged out of the debris. After a short time he revived and again resumed his rescue work, until four persons were recovered alive. As it was known that four persons yet remained under the debris, the search continued, Bennie again being gassed and dragged out. During this time enemy planes were bombing and anti-aircraft fire was intense. He showed a great spirit of determination and devotion to duty and was a fine example. A relief party ultimately recovered the remaining casualties. Bernard Bennie served in the Camel Corps in Mesopotamia in the Great War 1914-1918. He subsequently worked for Ford in Dagenham, UK, and was briefly involved in the setting-up of Ford Motor Co. in Geelong, Australia. Lewisham's Heavy Lifting Squad. Their main depot was at Wearside Road (Still used by Lewisham Council when I left London) Ladywell. Their presence was required at 73 incidents in the first four days of the Blitz where they succeeded in rescuing 55 people alive from under collapsed buildings. Mr Bernard Bennie who won the George Medal described above is in the back row, third from the right. The George Cross and George Medal wasn’t instituted by King George VI until 24th September 1940 so I’m guessing he was one of the first to be awarded the medal. Cheers Andy
How bizarre, I have just found out (with chill down my spine) that he rescued and searched for buried victims on my road-Engleheart Road, Catford.
Rob, The one thing I would love more than anything else is a picture of where my old house was bombe....That would be the icing Cheers Andy
Yesterday I recieved a PM from a member of George Bennies family with a few corrections regarding Georges background. Rather than edit the original post I thought it would be more appropriate to add the corrections to the thread by way of a thank you to Arthur who kindly supplied me with the info. The details concerning the award of the George Medal is, of couse, spot on, however, I have spoken to Bernard Bennie's daughter, Mrs. Josephine V****, my brother's widow and she says that her father being born in 1901 could not and did not serve in the 1914 1918 War. However he was in the army in Alexandria and Cairo between 1923-1925. He was a blacksmith/farrier caring for cavalry horses. He went to Australia with his father George, also a blacksmith and manufactured ornamental gates and fences. Josephne is positive that Bernard never worked for Fords in Dagenham neither did he help to set up Fords in Australia. Bernard Bennie returned to the u.K. before the 1939-1945 War. Thanks for putting the details about the award of the medal, it has aroused interest about the family to several of the Bennie family members and they have helped me to discover a great deal of information about the their family. Best Wishes, (Name supplied.) Many thanks Arthur, Regards Andy
