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424:"Major Kenneth A Biggs, Army Serial No 173490, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, British Army, distinguished himself by meritorious achievement of service at the North Savernake Railhead, Savernake Ammunition Depot, Marlborough, Wilts, England, on 2 January 1946. Major Biggs displayed exceptional devotion to duty by assisting to save valuable equipment and ammunition with complete disregard for his personal safety.
354:(who was also to be awarded the GC for his actions). Rogerson organised the removal of the most seriously wounded, and personally rescued several from under the burning trucks. Biggs then arrived on the scene, and took command as the senior officer present. He rallied the men, despite the threat posed by the
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charges of the shells being set off by the heat, firing them at random. He personally uncoupled one blazing wagon, with the assistance of another officer, pushed it to a safe distance, and extinguished it. Due to their efforts 69 wagons of ammunition were saved, it took until late morning on 3
334:
On 2 January 1946, he was at an ammunition depot in
Savernake Forest when ammunition being loaded from lorries into railway trucks caught fire. A three-ton lorry, and two twenty-tonne railway wagons were destroyed almost immediately. Secondary explosions then destroyed two more lorries and 27
420:
On 22 February 1946 at the US Army HQ, Colonel Thele US Army, on behalf of the
President of the United States of America, presented the Bronze Star Medal for gallant conduct to Major Kenneth A Biggs RAOC. The citation read:
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and mines), were threatened by the blaze. It is probable that had all this material been detonated, in addition to killing all the personnel present, severe damage would have been caused to the nearby town of
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Captain (temporary Major) Kenneth Alfred BIGGS (173490), Royal Army
Ordnance Corps (London, N.10). No. 10536260 Corporal (acting Staff-Sergeant) Sidney George ROGERSON, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
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has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned: —
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wagons. In addition to the train being loaded, there was also a fully loaded train in the freight yard, in all 96 wagons, containing 2000 tons of explosive (5.5 inch
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427:"The superior devotion to duty and leadership displayed by Major Biggs reflects very high credit on him and the Armed Forces of the British Army."
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January for the last fires to be extinguished. Even then, unexploded shells and detonators left the area, which was now reminiscent of a
287:, he was away from home for five years. He was trained as in the supply and storage of ammunition, initially supporting British forces in
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Biggs died on 11 January 1998, at the age of 86 and just a few weeks short of his eighty-seventh birthday.
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569:"Award Of George Crosses—Heroes Of Ammunition Train Explosion". Official Appointments and Notices.
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211:(GC) for gallantry in his actions in rescuing people from an ammunition train on 2 January 1946 in
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After demobilisation he returned to his banking career, becoming a bank manager for
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The first person on the scene to attempt to control the situation was
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628:. No. 50631. London. 11 December 1946. col B, p. 7.
573:. No. 50580. London. 12 October 1946. col C, p. 2.
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of 8 October 1946, with the citation dated 11 October 1946:
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where he was involved in the supply of ammunition to the
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were awarded to those present. Biggs also received the
279:(RAOC) on 26 December 1940. His service was all in the
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382:, as a proportion of the ammunition was American.
593:(Supplement). 13 August 1946. pp. 4103–4104.
310:By 1946, when the war was over, when Biggs was a
322:, being stationed at CAD Corsham whilst nearing
227:Biggs was born on 26 February 1911 in Greenway,
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366:In addition to GCs for Biggs and Rogerson, an
489:. Chameleon HH Publishing Ltd. Archived from
408:He received his medal from King George VI at
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613:(Supplement). 8 October 1946. p. 5025.
527:"Kenneth Biggs, GC; Obituary". Obituaries.
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199:(26 February 1911 − 11 January 1998) was a
447:. He retired in 1971, initially moving to
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551:(Supplement). 7 March 1941. p. 1433.
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676:British Army personnel of World War II
671:British recipients of the George Cross
531:. London. 15 January 1998. p. 21.
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443:branch, and later in Muswell Hill and
656:Military personnel from Hertfordshire
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624:"Court Circular". Court and Social.
219:, and preventing a major explosion.
666:Royal Army Ordnance Corps officers
363:battlefield, extremely hazardous.
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459:. His wife, Jane, died in 1995.
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385:The award was announced in the
416:Award of the Bronze Star Medal
271:when he was commissioned as a
1:
451:. He eventually returned to
247:. He married Jane in 1938.
207:(RAOC) who was awarded the
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487:"Kenneth Alfred Biggs, GC"
243:and from there joined the
330:Award of the George Cross
318:, he had returned to the
295:, before being posted to
277:Royal Army Ordnance Corps
205:Royal Army Ordnance Corps
129:Royal Army Ordnance Corps
49:11 January 1998 (aged 86)
263:, initially serving in
661:People from Totteridge
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352:Sidney George Rogerson
412:on 10 December 1946.
376:British Empire Medals
235:. He was educated at
97:Years of service
483:Marion Hebblethwaite
194:Kenneth Alfred Biggs
22:Kenneth Alfred Biggs
439:, initially in the
404:(Caterham, Surrey).
610:The London Gazette
590:The London Gazette
548:The London Gazette
493:on 16 October 2007
410:Buckingham Palace
273:second lieutenant
237:Tollington School
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181:Bank manager for
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31:26 February 1911
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361:First World War
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301:Fourteenth Army
259:in 1940 during
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203:officer of the
178:Other work
173:(United States)
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52:Ewhurst, Surrey
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388:London Gazette
349:Staff Sergeant
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324:demobilisation
320:United Kingdom
314:and temporary
305:Burma campaign
269:lance corporal
255:He joined the
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495:. Retrieved
491:the original
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437:Midland Bank
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261:World War II
257:British Army
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251:Army service
245:Midland Bank
241:Muswell Hill
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209:George Cross
201:British Army
193:
189:
183:Midland Bank
161:George Cross
139:World War II
135:Battles/wars
91:British Army
15:
651:1998 deaths
646:1911 births
605:"No. 37753"
585:"No. 37686"
543:"No. 35099"
497:16 November
380:Bronze Star
342:Marlborough
281:Middle East
267:, he was a
171:Bronze Star
640:Categories
466:References
431:Later life
229:Totteridge
223:Early life
59:Allegiance
35:Totteridge
33:Greenway,
626:The Times
571:The Times
529:The Times
374:and five
289:Palestine
265:the ranks
217:Wiltshire
100:1940−1946
54:, England
41:, England
445:Edmonton
396:The KING
303:for the
285:Far East
77:Service/
453:Ewhurst
356:cordite
312:captain
275:in the
457:Surrey
370:, two
152:Awards
120:173490
88:
79:branch
68:
316:major
297:India
191:Major
109:Major
499:2007
293:Iraq
291:and
283:and
163:(GC)
125:Unit
105:Rank
46:Died
28:Born
368:MBE
231:in
642::
607:.
587:.
557:^
545:.
507:^
485:.
474:^
455:,
344:.
326:.
307:.
239:,
215:,
197:GC
37:,
501:.
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