Errol John Emanuel
Encyclopedia
Errol John Emanuel a District Commissioner in the East New Britain district of Papua New Guinea
was posthumously awarded the George Cross
, the highest British
(and Commonwealth
) award for bravery out of combat, for gallantry displayed between July 1969 and 19 August 1971. He was born on 13 December 1918, at Enfield
, New South Wales
. His award was noted in the London Gazette
of 1 February 1972, and the citation describes how throughout the period he had been working with the Tolai
people of the Gazelle Peninsula
, resolving factional conflicts, and restoring local government. On several occasions, despite the danger, he left his police escort to conduct negotiations single-handedly, despite the danger. On 19 August 1971 he did so again, despite the fact that some of the dissidents were in war paint. He was killed shortly after beginning negotiations.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
was posthumously awarded the George Cross
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...
, the highest British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
) award for bravery out of combat, for gallantry displayed between July 1969 and 19 August 1971. He was born on 13 December 1918, at Enfield
Enfield, New South Wales
Enfield is a suburb, in the Inner-West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Enfield is located 13 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Burwood Council.-History:...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. His award was noted 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 1 February 1972, and the citation describes how throughout the period he had been working with the Tolai
Tolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
people of the Gazelle Peninsula
Gazelle Peninsula
Gazelle Peninsula is a large peninsula in northeastern New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at ....
, resolving factional conflicts, and restoring local government. On several occasions, despite the danger, he left his police escort to conduct negotiations single-handedly, despite the danger. On 19 August 1971 he did so again, despite the fact that some of the dissidents were in war paint. He was killed shortly after beginning negotiations.