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air raid on the city of London resulted in an unexploded bomb landing very close to St Paul's
Cathedral. The bomb was lodged 27 feet deep in Deans Yard (close to the west end of the cathedral) and took three days to dig out. It was placed on two lorries (joined in tandem) and Davies drove it through
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So conscious was this officer of the imminent danger to the
Cathedral that regardless of personal risk he spared neither himself nor his men in their efforts to locate the bomb. After unremitting effort, during which all ranks knew that an explosion might occur at any moment, the bomb was
360:. Upon his death on 27 September 1975 he was cremated and his remains interred at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney. His interment niche is located in the "OT" wall, niche 175.
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In order to shield his men from further danger, Lieutenant Davies himself drove the vehicle in which the bomb was removed and personally carried out its disposal.
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Lieutenant Davies was the officer in charge of the party detailed to recover the bomb which fell in the vicinity of St. Paul's
Cathedral.
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of 1 October 1970 reported that his medal had been sold for a then record £2,100. It is now on display at the
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on 1 June 1942, and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, reduced to 18 months following review by the
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Geraldine Keen (1 October 1970). "Record £2,100 paid for a George Cross". Arts and
Entertainment.
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has several chapters on Davies's life and the St Paul's bomb. Published by Little, Brown, 2010
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has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross to the undermentioned:—
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in 1918. He returned to
Cornwall in the 1930s, and on 6 March 1940 was commissioned as a
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He afterwards migrated to
Australia and lived with his family in Kogarah, Sydney.
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479:"Alleged Offences By R.E. Officer—Court-Martial of Capt. R. Davies, G.C.". News.
190:(GC) for the heroism he displayed in defusing a bomb which threatened to destroy
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544:"Capt. R. Davies, R.E., Sentenced—Imprisonment And To Be Cashiered". News.
509:"Court-Martial of R.E. Officer—Not Guilty on Three of 11 Charges". News.
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Sergeant James Wilson and Lance-Corporal
Herbert Leigh were awarded the
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494:"Alleged Offences By R.E. Officer—Evidence By Captain Davies". News.
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was also awarded the George Cross for his part in the same action.
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and Annie Vingoe. Davies had emigrated to Canada and joined the
303:(for meritorious service) (BEM) for their part in the action.
468:. No. 49163. London. 18 February 1942. col C, p. 7.
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After defusing the St Paul's bomb, Davies then served in the
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British Royal
Engineer awarded the George Cross (1900–1975)
548:. No. 49241. London. 19 May 1942. col C, p. 2.
513:. No. 49241. London. 19 May 1942. col C, p. 2.
498:. No. 49240. London. 20 May 1942. col C, p. 8.
483:. No. 49239. London. 19 May 1942. col E, p. 2.
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of 27 September 1940 (dated 30 September 1940) reads:
433:(Supplement). 27 September 1940. pp. 5767–5768.
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Temporary
Lieutenant Robert Davies, Royal Engineers.
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453:(Supplement). 27 September 1940. p. 5769.
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563:. No. 57985. London. col F, p. 14.
533:(Supplement). 25 August 1942. p. 3757.
182:(3 October 1900 – 27 September 1975) was a
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410:(Supplement). 5 April 1940. p. 2050.
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642:British recipients of the George Cross
637:British Army personnel of World War II
261:The citation from a supplement to the
652:Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers
607:http://vingoe.name/George%20Cross.htm
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210:, the son of John Sampson Davies of
464:"Investiture at the Palace". News.
242:On the night 8/9 September 1940, a
331:and convicted of eight charges of
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632:Military personnel from Cornwall
602:British Army Officers 1939−1945
253:where it was safely destroyed.
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391:. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
186:officer who was awarded the
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341:General Officer Commanding
283:successfully extricated.
662:Royal Engineers officers
327:In May 1942, Davies was
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194:on 12 September 1940.
389:George Cross database
113:Years of service
301:British Empire Medal
294:George Cameron Wylie
249:deserted streets to
358:Imperial War Museum
202:Davies was born in
192:St Paul's Cathedral
657:People from Newlyn
530:The London Gazette
450:The London Gazette
430:The London Gazette
407:The London Gazette
370:George Wyllie (GC)
319:in February 1942.
176:Robert John Davies
36:Robert John Davies
18:Robert Davies (GC)
590:978-1-4087-0255-0
317:Buckingham Palace
220:second lieutenant
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627:1975 deaths
622:1900 births
525:"No. 35681"
445:"No. 34956"
425:"No. 34956"
402:"No. 34825"
313:Middle East
82:, Australia
42:Nickname(s)
616:Categories
582:James Owen
578:Danger UXB
376:References
198:Early life
127:Lieutenant
87:Allegiance
56:1900-10-03
561:The Times
546:The Times
511:The Times
496:The Times
481:The Times
466:The Times
353:The Times
337:cashiered
245:Luftwaffe
232:the Blitz
156:The Blitz
118:1940–1942
65:, England
364:See also
272:The King
257:Citation
208:Cornwall
97:Service/
222:in the
212:St Erth
116:c. 1918
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291:Sapper
204:Newlyn
164:Awards
99:branch
90:Canada
80:Sydney
63:Newlyn
45:"Jock"
333:fraud
586:ISBN
133:Unit
123:Rank
70:Died
50:Born
580:by
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416:^
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180:GC
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54:(
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