Richard Arthur Samuel Bywater
Encyclopedia
Richard Arthur Samuel Bywater won the George Cross
and George Medal
, one of only eight people to have been awarded both medals, and the only civilian.
He was born on 3 November 1913 in Birmingham
and was a Factory Development Officer in the Ministry of Supply
. On 22 February 1944 there was an accident at an arms factory in Kirby
in Liverpool
. 19 workers, mainly women, were filling fuses when one exploded, killing one woman immediately and wounding two others, one of whom later died of her injuries. The fuse had exploded because of a defective striker and Bywater realised that the whole building, which contained 12,000 highly explosive fuses, was in danger of igniting. He led three other voulunteers in the hazardous work of clearing the wrecked factory of 12,724 fuses over the next three days, plus another 4,000 which were believed to be defective.
The award of the Mr. Bywater's George Cross was published in the London Gazette
on 26 September 1944 while his George Medal, for bravery in clearing a factory at the same site in 1944, was published on 18 September 1945. He died 6 April 2005, aged 91.
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...
and 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...
, one of only eight people to have been awarded both medals, and the only civilian.
He was born on 3 November 1913 in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and was a Factory Development Officer in the Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
. On 22 February 1944 there was an accident at an arms factory in Kirby
Kirby
-Places:Canada* Kirby, Ontario, a hamletUnited States* Kirby, Arkansas* Kirby, Indiana* Kirby, Ohio* Kirby, Texas* Kirby, Vermont* Kirby, West Virginia* Kirby, Wisconsin* Kirby, WyomingEngland* Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire* Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. 19 workers, mainly women, were filling fuses when one exploded, killing one woman immediately and wounding two others, one of whom later died of her injuries. The fuse had exploded because of a defective striker and Bywater realised that the whole building, which contained 12,000 highly explosive fuses, was in danger of igniting. He led three other voulunteers in the hazardous work of clearing the wrecked factory of 12,724 fuses over the next three days, plus another 4,000 which were believed to be defective.
The award of the Mr. Bywater's George Cross was published 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 26 September 1944 while his George Medal, for bravery in clearing a factory at the same site in 1944, was published on 18 September 1945. He died 6 April 2005, aged 91.