Ernest Oliver Gidden
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Ernest Oliver Gidden (15 March 1910 – 20 December 1961) was awarded the George Cross
for the "great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" he showed while defusing mines and bombs during the Blitz
in London
. He served at HMS President
with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was cited for making safe a mine which had fallen on Hungerford Bridge
on 17 April 1941. Notice of the award appeared in the London Gazette
of 9 June 1942.
The air raid
had destroyed several trains, caused underground services to be halted and the discovery of the unexploded bomb had prompted the evacuation of the War Office
itself. Gidden found the mine had come to rest across the railway's live high voltage line and that he would have to turn it over to reach the fuse. Working from dawn, it took six hours for him to make the device safe, at times having to ease the distorted casing back with a hammer and chisel where it had melted onto the live 'third rail'.
He had earlier been awarded the George Medal
for defusing a mine which had fallen between two houses in Harlesden
in the late summer of 1940. The notice for this award appeared in the London Gazette
of 14 January 1941.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the "great gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" he showed while defusing mines and bombs during the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He served at HMS President
HMS President (shore establishment)
HMS President is a stone frigate, or shore establishment of the Royal Naval Reserve; on the northern bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.-Present day:...
with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and was cited for making safe a mine which had fallen on Hungerford Bridge
Hungerford Bridge
The Hungerford Bridge crosses the River Thames in London, and lies between Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge. It is a steel truss railway bridge—sometimes known as the Charing Cross Bridge—flanked by two more recent, cable-stayed, pedestrian bridges that share the railway bridge's...
on 17 April 1941. Notice of the award appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 9 June 1942.
The air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
had destroyed several trains, caused underground services to be halted and the discovery of the unexploded bomb had prompted the evacuation of the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
itself. Gidden found the mine had come to rest across the railway's live high voltage line and that he would have to turn it over to reach the fuse. Working from dawn, it took six hours for him to make the device safe, at times having to ease the distorted casing back with a hammer and chisel where it had melted onto the live 'third rail'.
He had earlier been awarded the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
for defusing a mine which had fallen between two houses in Harlesden
Harlesden
Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee....
in the late summer of 1940. The notice for this award appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 14 January 1941.