Frederick John Cradock
Encyclopedia
Frederick John Cradock was posthumously awarded the George Cross for heroism in his attempts to save a workmate from boiling steam on 4 May 1943 in Glemsford
in Suffolk. A boilerman by trade, he was born in 1886 in Acton, London
and enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery
in 1915, going on to serve in France and Belgium with the 156th Brigade during World War I.
The award of the George Cross was announced in the London Gazette
on 10 September 1943. The citation recounted how the boiler which he and a colleague, Albert Sterry, were working on exploded, filling the boiler house with scalding steam. Sterry was trapped in a well between the boiler and furnace and although Cradock, who was on top of the furnace at the time, could have jumped to safety he called for a ladder and attempted to climb down to rescue his workmate. He was overcome by the steam and severely scalded but made a second attempt to retrieve his friend. Despite his gallant efforts Sterry was killed and Cradock died making his second rescue bid.
The story was recounted in the Haverhill Echo of 5 May 1943, noting how the explosion had been caused by a piece of metal lodging in a valve which prevented it venting excess pressure.
Glemsford
Glemsford is a village in the Babergh district in Suffolk, England, near the town of Sudbury. Glemsford is located near the River Glem and the River Stour also flows nearby...
in Suffolk. A boilerman by trade, he was born in 1886 in Acton, London
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
and enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
in 1915, going on to serve in France and Belgium with the 156th Brigade during World War I.
The award of the George Cross was announced 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...
on 10 September 1943. The citation recounted how the boiler which he and a colleague, Albert Sterry, were working on exploded, filling the boiler house with scalding steam. Sterry was trapped in a well between the boiler and furnace and although Cradock, who was on top of the furnace at the time, could have jumped to safety he called for a ladder and attempted to climb down to rescue his workmate. He was overcome by the steam and severely scalded but made a second attempt to retrieve his friend. Despite his gallant efforts Sterry was killed and Cradock died making his second rescue bid.
The story was recounted in the Haverhill Echo of 5 May 1943, noting how the explosion had been caused by a piece of metal lodging in a valve which prevented it venting excess pressure.