- SURNAME
Judge
- FORENAME
Thomas Alred Lewiss
- UNIT
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
438507
- AWARD
George Medal
- PLACE
Malaya 1965
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 43748, 24th August 1965, Page 8167
CITATION:
George Medal : In the early hours of Wednesday, 15th July 1964, Captain Judge received an emergency call from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Malacca, to examine a device including a brown paper carrier bag discovered beneath the Malacca Club and believed to be a bomb.
Captain Judge confirmed the package to be a timed demolition charge and requested the civil police to clear this densely populated area within a radius of 200 yards.
Captain Judge, who has disposed of a considerable number of such devices during the recent Malaysian emergency, being aware of the grave danger involved in the neutralisation of such complicated and sometimes unorthodox mechanisms, proceeded coolly and with great fortitude with his detailed examination.
This preliminary investigation revealed the timing device to be a modified wristlet watch, the normal face of which had been removed and the glass of which was covered partially by adhesive tape thereby masking the possible time of detonation. Without regard for his personal safety, he bravely neutralised this fiendish mechanism within minutes of detonation and then fully disarmed the bomb. On subsequent examination of the timing device, his suspicions were confirmed that only a hair's breadth separated an alternative short-circuit device of bared
wires which, with the slightest movement, would also have detonated the explosive.
During the whole of this extremely delicate operation-, Captain Judge never ceased to be aware of the danger with which he was confronted. In this instance and in many others prior to his departure from Malaysia, his cool courage and selfless devotion to the preservation and safety of human life in a young Commonwealth country were far beyond the call of normal duty. He never failed to respond swiftly to any demand, however dangerous the circumstances or however tired he might be.
Captain Judge confirmed the package to be a timed demolition charge and requested the civil police to clear this densely populated area within a radius of 200 yards.
Captain Judge, who has disposed of a considerable number of such devices during the recent Malaysian emergency, being aware of the grave danger involved in the neutralisation of such complicated and sometimes unorthodox mechanisms, proceeded coolly and with great fortitude with his detailed examination.
This preliminary investigation revealed the timing device to be a modified wristlet watch, the normal face of which had been removed and the glass of which was covered partially by adhesive tape thereby masking the possible time of detonation. Without regard for his personal safety, he bravely neutralised this fiendish mechanism within minutes of detonation and then fully disarmed the bomb. On subsequent examination of the timing device, his suspicions were confirmed that only a hair's breadth separated an alternative short-circuit device of bared
wires which, with the slightest movement, would also have detonated the explosive.
During the whole of this extremely delicate operation-, Captain Judge never ceased to be aware of the danger with which he was confronted. In this instance and in many others prior to his departure from Malaysia, his cool courage and selfless devotion to the preservation and safety of human life in a young Commonwealth country were far beyond the call of normal duty. He never failed to respond swiftly to any demand, however dangerous the circumstances or however tired he might be.
WEB LINKS:
• https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43748/supplement/8167
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