- SURNAME
Robson
- FORENAME
Eric Richard
- UNIT
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
- RANK
A/Warrant Officer First Class
- NUMBER
14317145
- AWARD
George Medal
- PLACE
Zayatkwin, Burma 1947
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Slough, Buckinghamshire
London Gazette 37996, 24th June 1947, Page 2922
CITATION:
On 11th. November, 1946, at ZAYATKWIN, a quantity of abandoned and captured phosphorus-filled ammunition was being destroyed. Two pits had been dug and in each one about 15 tons of ammunition had been stacked. Interspersed amongst the ammunition were about 400 pounds of guncotton and Nobel 852 with which to initiate the destruction of the ammunition. One pit was being supervised by Sub Conductor ROBSON and with him was a working party of some forty Japanese service personnel. About 15 yards away was the second pit under the supervision of an Officer and a further thirty five Japanese service personnel.
At about 1330 hours Sub Conductor ROBSON'S pit had been filled and he was instructed to cover it up with earth. While this was being done smoke was seen to rise from the middle of the pit and it was found that the earth thrown over the pile of ammunition and explosives was heavily impregnated with phosphorus. The latter, on exposure to the air had caught fire and had started a series of fires on the explosive train of guncotton slabs and Nobels 852.
With complete disregard for personal safety, Sub Conductor ROBSON ran into the pit and with his bare hands started to remove the burning phosphorus. His jacket caught fire but, wrenching it off, he threw into an adjacent pool of water and followed it by pieces of burning it guncotton which he picked out from amongst the ammunition. By this time his hands were covered with phosphorus and were very badly burnt.
Sub Conductor ROBSON has been an Ammunition Examiner for the past three years and must have been fully aware of the immediate danger that the initiating agents might catch fire and cause the detonation of the whole 15 tons of ammunition, not only in one, but in both pits. Despite this knowledge he went without hesitation into the pit and by his coolness and presence of mind took steps which prevented a very serious accident. This fine display of devotion to duty was the direct cause of saving the lives of some 75 Japanese service personnel who were in the immediate neighbourhood at the time.
At about 1330 hours Sub Conductor ROBSON'S pit had been filled and he was instructed to cover it up with earth. While this was being done smoke was seen to rise from the middle of the pit and it was found that the earth thrown over the pile of ammunition and explosives was heavily impregnated with phosphorus. The latter, on exposure to the air had caught fire and had started a series of fires on the explosive train of guncotton slabs and Nobels 852.
With complete disregard for personal safety, Sub Conductor ROBSON ran into the pit and with his bare hands started to remove the burning phosphorus. His jacket caught fire but, wrenching it off, he threw into an adjacent pool of water and followed it by pieces of burning it guncotton which he picked out from amongst the ammunition. By this time his hands were covered with phosphorus and were very badly burnt.
Sub Conductor ROBSON has been an Ammunition Examiner for the past three years and must have been fully aware of the immediate danger that the initiating agents might catch fire and cause the detonation of the whole 15 tons of ammunition, not only in one, but in both pits. Despite this knowledge he went without hesitation into the pit and by his coolness and presence of mind took steps which prevented a very serious accident. This fine display of devotion to duty was the direct cause of saving the lives of some 75 Japanese service personnel who were in the immediate neighbourhood at the time.
WEB LINKS:
• https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37996/supplement/2922NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7379234
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