There were 2 recipients of the George Medal following the Wilkinson's disaster.
The George Cross is the highest civilian award for gallantry followed by in order of merit, The George Medal.
The George Cross and the George Medal are awarded for similar acts of gallantry (i.e. any act of bravery not in the face of the enemy). The difference is in the degree of bravery displayed (in a similar way to the distinction made between the Victoria Cross and the Military Cross in battle). Both can be awarded to civilians or service personnel alike. Many servicemen and women have been awarded the GM and many civilians the GC.
The Royal Warrant authorising the award of the George Medal was published in January 1941. The medal is named after George VI.
In the period 1940-1945, 724 civilians were awarded the George Medal.
The George Medal: obverse George VI issue
Mr George Newstead
George Newstead cut a hole through to a cellar bay full of injured and dead. The casualties were gingerly taken out except for one man who was pinned down by a steel girder. He was in agony so a doctor was called to give him an anaesthetic and reluctantly, it was decided that the only way to save him was to amputate his foot. While the doctor crawled out to get his instruments George decided to have one more go at freeing the survivor. In spite of the risk of bringing down tons of debris he got a small jack under the girder and raised it slightly. It was just enough. By cutting the man's boot off they were able to ease his leg out and drag him clear.
Mr Clarence Burdiss
Clarence Burdiss cut a second hole through a thick wall to reach another smashed room in the basement. Here the casualties were lying amidst the splintered remains of their bunk beds. For four gruelling hours he slowly moved casualties from their shattered tomb. Finally he collapsed with exhaustion, yet when he recovered, insisted on going back into the ruins and pulled out several more people.
Medal Citations
from the Supplement to The London Gazette, 25 July, 1941
Awarded the George Medal
Clarence Burdis, Leader, ARP Rescue Party, Tynemouth
George Newstead, Leader, ARP Rescue Party, Tynemouth
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
Norman Darling Black, Member, First Aid Party, Tynemouth
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.
Burdis cut through a thick wall and entered another room in the basement in which a number of casualties were lying interlaced with timber from the bunks which had collapsed. In spite of the great confusion Burdis extricated these casualties one by one, passing them through the small hole to other members of the Squad. He worked unaided in a confined space for nearly 4 hours until he partially collapsed through exhaustion. On recovery, he insisted on returning to the basement and, by his gallant efforts, saved a number of lives.
Black made sustained and strenuous efforts to free injured persons from the debris and rendered first aid. He displayed courage and devotion to duty with complete disregard of his own safety.
It is ordained that the Medal shall be worn by recipients on the left breast suspended from a ribbon one and a quarter inches in width, of red, with five equidistant narrow vertical stripes of blue, and that it shall be worn immediately after the King's Police and Fire Services Medal, for gallantry.
By His Majesty's Command: Winston S. Churchill
thanks to James King, Assistant Archivist, Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick for information about The George Cross and The George Medal.