- SURNAME
Birch
- FORENAME
David Lawrence
- UNIT
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
- RANK
Sergeant
- NUMBER
23539466
- AWARD
British Empire Medal
- PLACE
Hong Kong 1968
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 44584, 10th May 1968, Page 5443
CITATION:
British Empire Medal : From 28th July to 9th October 1967, Sergeant Birch, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, was engaged in disposing of bombs during the terrorist campaign of bomb-planting in Hong Kong. In this time he carried out no less than twenty periods of duty and dealt with more than 200 devices.
Although not all devices proved to be true bombs, all had to be most carefully and exhaustively investigated and dealt with. This dangerous work was made even more so by the terrorist stratagem of using a device, true or hoax, to attract a target in the form of a bomb disposal team, and then throwing further bombs down from nearby buildings. A number of persons were killed and injured in this campaign of terrorism; and Sergeant Birch was himself injured by a bomb, thrown during his investigation of a device. Despite these dangers, and his injury, Sergeant Birch continued coolly and fearlessly with his demanding task.
His calm courage was an example of gallantry of a high order which was an1 inspiration to his colleagues and in the highest tradition of the Service
Although not all devices proved to be true bombs, all had to be most carefully and exhaustively investigated and dealt with. This dangerous work was made even more so by the terrorist stratagem of using a device, true or hoax, to attract a target in the form of a bomb disposal team, and then throwing further bombs down from nearby buildings. A number of persons were killed and injured in this campaign of terrorism; and Sergeant Birch was himself injured by a bomb, thrown during his investigation of a device. Despite these dangers, and his injury, Sergeant Birch continued coolly and fearlessly with his demanding task.
His calm courage was an example of gallantry of a high order which was an1 inspiration to his colleagues and in the highest tradition of the Service
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44584/supplement/5443NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7637037
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