- SURNAME
Walton
- FORENAME
John Percy
- UNIT
Royal Engineers (Bomb Disposal)
- RANK
Lieutenant
- NUMBER
120146
- DATE OF DEATH
1st April 1942
- AGE
33
- GRAVESITE
Manchester Southern Cemetery, Lancashire Sec. I R.C. Grave 1244
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
mother Frances Thorp
wife Eveline Mary Walton (died 1981)
award G.M.
KOAS UK
London Gazette 35326, 28th October 1941, Page 6247
DATE OF DEATH:
01-Apr-1942AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/walton-john-percy.38582/CITATION:
George Medal : Lieutenant Walton has been continuously on Bomb Disposal work since October, 1940, during which time he has personally defuzed over one hundred bombs. Twenty-one of these, including four category "A", were dealt with within fourteen days. His total disregard of personal danger has been a fine example to all ranks of his Company. He has always displayed a readiness to tackle any job at any time of the day or night and on more than one occasion he commenced work whilst the raid was still in progress.
At Romford, on the 5th November, 1940, Lieutenant Walton disposed of four category "A" bombs in twenty-four hours. Two of these were in the gas works and it was necessary to enter a gas holder to remove one of them. This a 250 kilogram, with a No. 17 and No. 50 fuze was rendered safe under air conditions so bad that work could only be continued in twenty minute shifts. This hazardous work, most of which was done whilst enemy planes were overhead, with possible fatal consequences from gas, ensured the minimum damage to the gas works and allowed service to be resumed in the shortest possible time.
At the Tunnel Cement Works, Purfleet, on the 12th March, 1941, a 250 kilogram bomb fell adjacent to the main 3000 volt transformer and switchgear station. Twelve hours were taken to dig through twelve feet of solid chalk. There was a continuous influx of surface water and with pumps going it was never less than twelve inches deep in the excavation. The bomb when exposed was found to to have a No. 17 and No. 50 fuze and the clock was ticking. The inrush of water made defuzing difficult, and as an explosion in situ would have wrecked the switchgear and put the works out of action for a considerable time the risk was taken of moving the bomb to a site about two hundred yards away. The No. 17 fuze exploded ten hours after being taken out. Lieutenant Walton was present the whole time this work was being carried out and by his personal example obtained the fullest co-operation from his Section in this most dangerous task.
The Director of Bomb Disposal Branch, Home Forces, states that he considers that Lieutenant Walton has displayed deliberate and cold blooded courage of the highest order.
At Romford, on the 5th November, 1940, Lieutenant Walton disposed of four category "A" bombs in twenty-four hours. Two of these were in the gas works and it was necessary to enter a gas holder to remove one of them. This a 250 kilogram, with a No. 17 and No. 50 fuze was rendered safe under air conditions so bad that work could only be continued in twenty minute shifts. This hazardous work, most of which was done whilst enemy planes were overhead, with possible fatal consequences from gas, ensured the minimum damage to the gas works and allowed service to be resumed in the shortest possible time.
At the Tunnel Cement Works, Purfleet, on the 12th March, 1941, a 250 kilogram bomb fell adjacent to the main 3000 volt transformer and switchgear station. Twelve hours were taken to dig through twelve feet of solid chalk. There was a continuous influx of surface water and with pumps going it was never less than twelve inches deep in the excavation. The bomb when exposed was found to to have a No. 17 and No. 50 fuze and the clock was ticking. The inrush of water made defuzing difficult, and as an explosion in situ would have wrecked the switchgear and put the works out of action for a considerable time the risk was taken of moving the bomb to a site about two hundred yards away. The No. 17 fuze exploded ten hours after being taken out. Lieutenant Walton was present the whole time this work was being carried out and by his personal example obtained the fullest co-operation from his Section in this most dangerous task.
The Director of Bomb Disposal Branch, Home Forces, states that he considers that Lieutenant Walton has displayed deliberate and cold blooded courage of the highest order.
WEB LINKS:
• https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35326/page/6247• https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7378386
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156920113/john-percy-walton
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