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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by a volunteer from Radio Northampton Action Desk on behalf of Henry John Tuttle and has been added to the site with his permission. Henry John Tuttle fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

During the WW2 German ‘Blitz’ on London in 1940-1941, my Grandfather Henry (Harry) Tuttle, who had been a soldier in WW1, was a member of Party 29B, of the Heavy Rescue Squad, A.R.P. based at Colebrook Row Station, Islington, London.

The job of the Heavy Rescue Squad, was to rescue people trapped in the wreckage of bombed buildings, Grandfather Henry died as a result of enemy action on 6th August 1941. He had taken part in an incident, in which nine lives had been saved, at the cost of his own. His death was caused by inhaling coal gas during the rescue efforts.On the 19th March 1941, a heavy high explosive bomb fell on the L.M.S. railway line next to No 375 Liverpool Road, Islington. Demolishing it and damaging other near by houses, the rescue squad were called to the scene and rescue operations were started by Party 29, of which my Grandfather Henry was a member.
On hearing tapping under the debris, he was lowered head first into a small opening by his team Leader Mr Mills, Henry crawled through and made contact with a trapped woman,after rescue operations lasting for three quarters of an hour, he managed to bring the woman safely out, pratically unharmed, despite the fact that he was in danger from escaping coal gas and the possibility of becoming trapped himself. Further tunnelling in grave danger of falling on to the railway line 40 feet below, resulted in the rescue of another woman.

One of Henry’s squad, Arthur William Brown, wrote the following Epitaph, which was printed in the ‘Islington Gazette’, on the 12th August 1941:

Epitaph to a Colleague

In memory of Mr Harry Tuttle, 2 Myddleton Building, a member of Party 29B rescue service, Colebrook Row station.

Just an ordinary fellow, and a friend, I felt of mine.

From the day when I first knew him, as ‘number three’, of ‘twenty-nine’.

When the ‘blitz’ began last autumn, And bombs were heard to whine,

His coolness and his courage, Helped us all, in ‘twenty-nine’.

To reach imprisoned victims, No risk did he decline.

His conduct sets a standard, Which we’ll keep in ‘twenty-nine’.

We’re ready for the next raid, And though he’s absent from the line,

His spirit won’t be missing, From the squad, called ‘twenty-nine’.

Henry was posthumously awarded the ‘British Empire Medal’ for his part in the rescue, the other members of the team were also awarded medals, as stated in the following extract from the ‘London Gazette’, dated 12th September 1941:

Number 35271 5267

Supplement to the ‘London Gazette’ of Tuesday the 9th September, 1941. Published by Authority. Registered as a newspaper.

Friday, the 12th September, 1941.

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St James’s Palace, S.W.1
12th September, 1941.

The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the under mentioned appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for the following awards of the George Medal, of a Bar to the British Empire Medal, and of the British Empire Medal and for the publication in the London Gazette of the names of the persons specially shown below as having received an expression of Commendation for their brave conduct in Civil Defence.

To be an Additional Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:-

John Joseph McCarthy, M.B., B.Ch., Medical Officer, Mobile Unit, Islington.

Awarded the British Empire Medal, (Civil Division):-

Arthur William Brown, Member, Charles Bruzensky, Leader, Robert Edwin Mills, Leader, Henry Tuttle, Member, A.R.P. Rescue Party, Islington.

Bombs demolished houses, gas and water mains were fractured and people were trapped in the wreckage.

Dr. McCarthy worked with the Rescue Party and repeatedly entered a gas-laden tunnel to attend to casualties and administer oxygen to a trapped man.

Leaders Bruzensky and Mills, helped by Brown and Tuttle, constructed the tunnel through which casualties were extricated. As the tunnel became filled with goal gas they worked in relays but eventually Tuttle and Bruzensky were overcome and had to be removed to hospital. Brown and Mills worked on and as a result of the efforts of all the rescuers, nine lives were saved.

In addition to the danger from escaping gas and water, the men were in constant peril from a damaged chimney stack overhanging the scene of operations.

My Grandmother, Father, Two Aunts and an Uncle, attended an Investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive my Grandfather’s B.E.M. from King George 6th, as stated in the following:

HM the King recently held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.

Decorations were handed to the Next of Kin, of many who have lost their lives.

12304. Mrs TUTTLE with her two Sons and two Daughters received the B.E.M. awarded to her Husband a rescue worker in the Civil Defence.

S & G. F.C.

I am very proud of the fact that my Grandfather was awarded a medal, not for killing people but for helping to save others.

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