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1942531 Sapper

George Cameron Wylie.

Bomb Disposal

Royal Engineers

George Cross.

25th December 1908 to 1st February 1987.

 

On the 12th September 1940 a 2,000kg bomb landed close to St Pauls Cathederal. Sapper Wylie located the bomb in embedded in the soil in Deans yard.

Due to its weight and the soft soil, the job of removing the bomb from the ground was an arduous task, which took three days. The task was made that bit more hazadous by a broken gas main, on fire, being nearby.

Wylie and his team removed the bomb from the ground and placed it on a lorry that Wylie drove himself, with Lt Davis to Hackney Marshes, where it was detonated by an controlled  explosion. The crater was 100ft, what damage would this have caused to St Pauls.

Wylies citation reads; The KING has been graciously pleased to award the George Cross, to Sapper Wylie, The actual discovery and removal of the bomb fell to him. Sapper Wylie's untiring energy, courage, and diregard for danger were an outstanding example to his comrades.