SAS Whittle, Harold

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Whittle
  • FORENAME
Harold
  • UNIT
Special Boat Squadron (M Detachment)
  • RANK
Sergeant
  • NUMBER
1073686
  • AWARD
George Medal
  • PLACE
Simi 1943
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Artillery
miner in civilian life
died 1967
 

CITATION:

George Medal : This NCO displayed gallantry, leadership and initiative of the highest order during operations by X Det SBS, in DODECANESE 13 Sep 43, to 18 Oct 43. On 8Oct 43, at 1300 BRITISH HQ received a direct hit from a Stuke raid. Two ORs were trapped alive under the debris. WHITTLE supervised rescue operations, working like a man possessed himself. He worked for a period of 27 hrs without rest, exposing himself to extreme personal risk. He continued work throughout two further raids when a bomb falling anywhere in slightest vicinity would have brought the remnants of the building upon him. He was a source of inspiration to all the workers and the credit that the two were released alive (unfortunately both died later) was almost entirely due to his direction, initiative, in making do with the crude tools at his disposal and his entire disregard of personal risk. He himself made and shored up a passage under debris to one man.

WEB LINKS:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7379295
Last edited by a moderator:
Harold Whittle

Harold Whittle service no. 1072686 was my grandfather, who sadly died in 1967, the year before my birth. He died suddenly and never told anyone of the reasons that he won the george medal. From this excellent site and The London Gazette it appears that he and Porter (Joe) Jarrell service no. 14500040 won their medals for the same acts. Does anyone know what they did, or how I could find out. We as a family are extremely proud of my grandfather and of all the servicemen and women who fought for our country and still do.
 
Harold Whittle

Harold Whittle service no. 1072686 was my grandfather, who sadly died in 1967, the year before my birth. He died suddenly and never told anyone of the reasons that he won the george medal. From this excellent site and The London Gazette it appears that he and Porter (Joe) Jarrell service no. 14500040 won their medals for the same acts. Does anyone know what they did, or how I could find out. We as a family are extremely proud of my grandfather and of all the servicemen and women who fought for our country and still do.

Lord Ashcroft will be publishing a book later this year (2014) which tells the story of how Harold Whittle's GM was won in Italy. Are you able to give some more details of his life after the war so that this part of his life can be reflected in the book? If so please contact specialoperationsheroes@hotmail.com
 
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