Henry Herbert Reed

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bombardier Henry Herbert Reed GC of the Royal Artillery was posthumously awarded the George Cross[1] for the "gallant and utterly selfless action" he showed after the merchant ship, SS Cormount, was attacked by German E-boats and planes on the 20th of June 1940.

The ship was raked by machine gun fire from the attacking planes and Reed, who had volunteered to man anti aircraft guns on merchant shipping, had suffered a mortal stomach wound. Despite his injuries he rescued the injured Chief Officer from the badly damaged bridge and carried him down two sets of ladders to safety. He also managed to move an injured steward to cover before dying, minutes later, of his wounds. The ship survived the attack, despite being struck by an air launched torpedo.[2] He was also posthumously awarded the Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea. He had been born in Sunderland in 1911.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bombardier Henry Herbert Reed GC. National Army Museum. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
  2. ^ Wearside Echos. Sunderland Echo (22nd November 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-21.