RAF CHAPLAINCY
THEY SERVED THEIR GENERATION: THE REVEREND STANLEY HARRISON
GEORGE MEDAL CITATION 1941
“ One night in November, 1940, an aircraft crashed and burst into flames about three miles from the aerodrome and, although it was not his duty to do so, Mr. Harrison boarded the ambulance which was proceeding to the scene. On arrival, he immediately
Padre Harrison plunged into the wreckage and despite the scorching heat and exploding machine gun bullets, commenced to drag a member of the crew from the burning debris. He then supervised the work and led the fire picket, himself extricating a second member of the crew and assisting to remove a third. Further efforts were unavailing, however, as the remaining members of the crew were completely buried under the wreckage. Throughout he displayed the utmost courage and an entire disregard for his own safety.”
OBE CITATION 1957
“ On 5th March, 1957, a Royal Air Force Beverley transport aircraft carrying RAF personnel and police dogs crashed on the village of Sutton Wick, Drayton, Berkshire. The aircraft, which had a large quantity of petrol on board, immediately caught fire and a major conflagration ensued. Wing Commander Harrison, Station Chaplain, and Flying Officer Evans, a Medical Officer from Royal Air Force Station, Abingdon, were soon on the scene of the crash and for three hours they worked together to rescue the occupants of the aircraft. They extricated fourteen bodies from the wreckage and displayed courage and resourcefulness of a high order, refusing to give up while there was hope of finding survivors among the wreckage.
Some 1½ hours after the crash, Wing Commander Harrison rescued a police dog alive. At one stage a Calor gas cylinder bottle exploded near these officers and the fire thereupon’ began to gain ground. Undeterred by this, they continued their search of the wreckage until it was clear that there could be no survivors. Whilst Wing Commander Harrison was undoubtedly the leader in the rescue operations, Flying Officer Evans was conspicuous in always being with him in the most dangerous places.”
Blackburn Beverley.
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