Dates:
Civilian:
John Foley, a stoker at Park Hospital, Hither Green (later known as Hither Green Hospital), was awarded the George Medal for his actions during an air raid on the night of 11 September 1940.
The award was announced in the London Gazette of 14 January 1941.
The citation reads: "When the nurses sick room at the Park Hospital was hit by a high explosive bomb, the building collapsed almost entirely and caught fire. One of the two sick nurses in the building was seen hanging to a roof beam over a hole from which flames were issuing. She dropped into the debris below, being badly burned in so doing. Stoker Foley, at great personal risk, succeeded in reaching her and getting her to a place of safety. He found the second nurse trapped between beams, and with assistance, succeeded in extricating her. Foley showed complete disregard of danger. Debris of the building, which was still on fire, was falling from time to time and throughout portions of anti aircraft shell were falling in the vicinity."
Source:
London Gazette
Red Alert : South East London 1939-1945 by Lewis Blake
Contributed By: Andy Pepper
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