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SGT George John Adamson

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SGT George John Adamson Famous memorial

Birth
Bromley Common, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London, England
Death
14 Mar 1976 (aged 80)
Farnborough, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London, England
Burial
Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London, England Add to Map
Memorial ID
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George Cross Recipient. He was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions on the 6th May 1936 in Calcutta, India, when he, with Cecil Kelly acting as pilot, was in charge of two Port Police launches escorting a cargo of defective dynamite being taken for destruction up the River Hooghly in a barge. The barge proved to be unseaworthy, and after traveling 15 miles up the river was in danger of sinking. Adamson's only responsibility was for escorting the cargo, but despite great personal risk, they tried to keep the barge afloat by bailing water from 7pm to midnight, when it was decided to beach the barge. They managed to guide the barge to the beach by hand in the darkness and despite the chances of the dynamite igniting. This took 5 and a half hours. They then partially unloaded the barge, but they couldn't move the last 2 tons due to their instability. They then refloated the barge, towed it into deep water and sank it.
George Cross Recipient. He was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions on the 6th May 1936 in Calcutta, India, when he, with Cecil Kelly acting as pilot, was in charge of two Port Police launches escorting a cargo of defective dynamite being taken for destruction up the River Hooghly in a barge. The barge proved to be unseaworthy, and after traveling 15 miles up the river was in danger of sinking. Adamson's only responsibility was for escorting the cargo, but despite great personal risk, they tried to keep the barge afloat by bailing water from 7pm to midnight, when it was decided to beach the barge. They managed to guide the barge to the beach by hand in the darkness and despite the chances of the dynamite igniting. This took 5 and a half hours. They then partially unloaded the barge, but they couldn't move the last 2 tons due to their instability. They then refloated the barge, towed it into deep water and sank it.

Bio by: Paul Barnett


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Paul Barnett
  • Added: Aug 6, 2020
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/214153579/george_john-adamson: accessed ), memorial page for SGT George John Adamson (4 Mar 1896–14 Mar 1976), Find a Grave Memorial ID 214153579, citing Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Beckenham, London Borough of Bromley, Greater London, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.