The following information was kindly provided by Mrs Patricia Lydon (North Shields) in response to an appeal published in the News Guardian May 2001.
My Grandfather never really mentioned Wilkinson's to us. He was a modest man and I suppose the War was just something he wanted to forget. He was a very active man, always busy providing for his family. I'm very proud of him and what he did.
photo: Mrs Lydon holding Grandfather's George Medal
My Grandfather would've been about 40 years old at the time of Wilkinson's. He wasn't originally from North Shields - he was a miner from Langley Park in County Durham. When he came up here he was a mason for Tynemouth Corporation from 1931-1939. He was always good at making money though. He opened a General Dealer's shop in Grey Street next to Davies Dairy and lived above the shop. In the summer he used to have a candyfloss machine and sold it to the day-trippers in Tynemouth. He also sold ice-cream at the Coast.
When the War broke out he would make and give away pea soup and broth to the poor at his shop. He joined the Civil Defence and became a Sergeant. Perhaps he was on duty that night. Certainly his mining background helped him get to the trapped man where others would have given up.
A doctor had gone to get his instruments to amputate one of the man's legs to free him but while he was away Mr Newstead jacked up the timbers and working in a gap 12 inches high managed to get him out.
He presented his George Medal to the Borough (this was later returned to him when he emigrated).
After the war he kept the shop on and did more building work until the early 60's. In 1963 he and his wife Rachel emigated to Australia to join their daughter Edith in Adelaide. Returning to North Shields briefly in 1969, George died in Australia in 1987.
A building suffered a direct hit and people were trapped in the basement. Newstead cut a hole through the wall to a room containing a number of casualties and arranged for their removal. One man was trapped by his leg under tons of debris. Medical assistance was called and an anaesthetic administered to the casualty with a view to amputating his foot, but in the meantime Newstead, at great risk to his life, succeeded in getting into position a small jack and relieved the pressure on the man's foot. By cutting away the boot he succeeded in dragging the man to comparative safety. Newstead, who was aware that at any moment during the rescue operation the building might have collapsed, showed outstanding courage.
[from the George Medal citation]
photo: George and Rachel Newstead