List of recipients of the George Medal, 1960s-1980s
The George Medal is awarded by the United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations for acts of great bravery; over 2,000 medals have been awarded since its inception in September 1940. Below is set out a selection of recipients of the award, between 1960 and 1989. A person's presence in this list does not suggest their award was more notable than any other award of the George Medal.
Where a recipient has received a second George Medal, a picture of the ribbon bearing the bar symbol is shown. In December 1977 the provisions for the medal were altered, allowing it to be awarded posthumously, in which case the "" symbol appears next to the recipient's name.
1960s
| Name | Rank and Unit | Action/Citation | Year awarded |
| Senior constable, Queensland Police Force | The dredge Kaptajn Nielsen overturned without warning in Moreton Bay, trapping crew below deck in of water. The water police officer and volunteer diver Joseph Engwirda immediately dived into the murky water and rescued twelve survivors, and some deceased persons. After air issues, they revived, and returned to the upturned vessel for other possible survivors. Engwirda also awarded the George Medal, and British Empire Medals to three other volunteer divers. | 1965 | |
| Police officer, Bushy Park, Tasmania | For rescuing two people during the Derwent Valley floods. | 1960 | |
| Policewoman, London, England | For preventing Thomas French from committing suicide by jumping off a building whilst holding his infant son in Bloomsbury, London, in March 1964. | 1964 | |
| Captain, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | For bravery during the removal and disposal of No 74-type grenades discovered close to the married quarters barrack area and the railway at Aldershot. | 1963 | |
| Constable, City of Glasgow Police | On 30 December 1969, following the Linwood bank robbery, he tackled and disarmed Howard Wilson, a former police officer turned bank robber, after three other police officers had already been shot, two fatally. | 1969 | |
| Constable, Liverpool City Police. | In recognition of his brave conduct apprehending an armed robber in August 1961. | 1962 | |
| Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps | For bravery in saving the life of an injured officer trapped in a helicopter crash in the jungles of in Sarawak during the Borneo Conflict. On 20 April 1964, while serving as a Captain, Crawford was attached as the Medical Officer to the 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles when the helicopter he was travelling in visiting troops forward in the thick jungle suffered engine failure. The helicopter crashed on a steep hillside and rolled down the hillside with ever increasing damage until tree trunks arrested it crushing the arm of Major Eric Smith, always known as "Birdie" Smith. The helicopter was at risk of imminent fire from spilt fuel, and those in it were in grave danger. With no thought for his safety Crawford remained for the next hour attending to Smith's injuries including performing an emergency amputation of Smith's right arm without morphia, and stayed with Smith until they were evacuated by helicopter to Simmanggang. Despite complete exhaustion, he helped with surgery at Simmanggang and at Kuching. Crawford had already assisted six Gurkha soldiers to escape from the wreckage of the helicopter, there was a great danger of the remnants of the helicopter going up in flames, before he found Smith badly injured, trapped in the wreckage, and saved his life. | 1964 | |
| Fireman, Glasgow Fire Service | For his part in fighting the Cheapside Street whisky bond fire which killed 14 firefighters and five members of the Salvage Corps. | 1960 | |
| Volunteer scuba diver | The dredge Kaptajn Nielsen overturned without warning in Moreton Bay, trapping crew below deck in of water. Volunteer diver Engwirda and water police officer Ivan Adams immediately dived into the murky water and rescued twelve survivors, and some deceased persons. After air issues, they revived, and returned to the upturned vessel for other possible survivors. Adams also awarded the George Medal, and British Empire Medals to three other volunteer divers. | 1965 | |
| Detective Constable 1st Class, Queensland Police Force | For his part in the apprehension of a man armed with a rifle in Brisbane, who had threatened to kill two other officers. Terence Murray Lewis also awarded the George Medal. Two other officers awarded British Empire Medals. | 1960 | |
| Detective senior constable #4503, Queensland Police Force | A suspicious male when stopped, produced a revolver and pointed at a sergeant. Struck in the knee by a bullet, the sergeant fell to the ground, Linthwaite rushed straight at the offender who then ran off. The offender then turned and fired at Linthwaite three times, narrowly missing him. He displayed a very high order of bravery and devotion to duty. | 1963 | |
| Detective Senior Constable, Queensland Police Force | For his part in the apprehension of a man armed with a rifle in Brisbane, who had threatened to kill two other officers. Glen Patrick Hallahan also awarded the George Medal. Two other officers awarded British Empire Medals. | 1960 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | For the bravery he displayed on 25 August 1966 when he and Constable Anthony John Gledhill chased and subdued armed criminals. | 1967 | |
| Ski professional/miner | George J. Preissler helped to rescue Heinrich W. Wenzel following a cave-in, Britannia Beach, British Columbia, November 1, 1960. When 2,000 tons of rock fell in an ore mine where he was working, Wenzel, 44, miner, was trapped in a seated position in a small chamber formed by the debris, which included timbers used to form the working levels of the mine. One timber nearly severed his arm just below the shoulder, but the artery was pinched shut and did not bleed. Preissler, 29, miner, and other miners called out to Wenzel, who reported his situation and physical condition. John Johnson, Dr. Barrie C. Flather, and mine officials arrived. Unable to find an opening in the rubble, Preissler, Johnson, and others began digging in gravel which had been used to backfill the lower levels previously mined. They excavated a tunnel three feet wide and four feet high for 35 feet just under the flooring of the level 10 feet below Wenzel's position. Preissler and Johnson then cut and carefully removed timbers, which had penetrated from the working level above. With only dim light from the lamp of his miner's hat, Preissler wriggled through the opening in the debris into a passage 18 inches high and wide, the bottom of which sloped upward in the direction of Wenzel. Taking care not to dislodge debris at the points where clearance was as little as 14 inches, Preissler squirmed through the rubble for 14 feet and reached Wenzel's chamber, which had an opening one foot in diameter. Wenzel said he was in considerable pain. Preissler wriggled backward through the, debris and returned to the other men. He reported on conditions and then cautiously crawled back to Wenzel with water and a pain-killing drug. Wenzel took them but said that he could not get through the chamber's small opening with his injured arm. Dr. Flather, who was larger than Preissler, volunteered to try to reach Wenzel and give medical aid, but was unable to reach Wenzel. Preissler later in his life stated that the earlier news accounts were not accurate and that he was the only person able to reach Wenzel. When Wenzel urged Preissler to amputate his arm, it was Wenzel who performed the amputation. At the urging of Preissler, Wenzel with difficulty squirmed through the opening. He followed Preissler downward through the passage and thence out of the tunnel. Wenzel was hospitalized and recuperated for eight months. Preissler was also awarded the Carnegie Medal for his act of extraordinary civilian heroism. | 1961 | |
| Detective Sergeant 1st Class #3654, Queensland Police Force | First awarded for disarming a violet criminal found in a stolen car on the outskirts of Brisbane, who threatening police officers with a rifle. Climbing into the car, Ryan spoke with the offender, then during a struggle had a shot discharged to avoid arrest. Later in the same year, Ryan awarded a second George Medal for disarming another man also armed with a rifle. At a domestic disturbance, a male had slashed his wrists, then absconded. He was located later in the house where he fired shots from a rifle. In the darkness under the house, Ryan tried to negotiate with the male who made threats to kill any police who approached him. Walking towards Ryan, a shot was fired, and after a struggle, the offender was disarmed. | 1963 1963 | |
| Company Sergeant Major, 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, TA | On the 14th May 1961 Sergeant Small was on duty as a despatcher during Parachute Training from a balloon at the RAF Station Hornchurch. Immediately after he had despatched the first of four parachutists the balloon exploded and the cage, with only the collapsed fabric as support, started to free fall. Sergeant Small, with admirable presence of mind succeeded in despatching two more parachutists despite the cage tilting to nearly 45 degrees. These men descended unhurt. Sergeant Small could then have despatched the last man and, as an extremely experienced parachutist, jumped himself with a very reasonable chance of avoiding injury. However he considered that the balloon was now too near the ground for a comparatively inexperienced parachutist to survive a descent, and he therefore retained this man in the cage and remained himself. He then proceeded to give clear and calm instructions as to the best position to adopt to avoid injury. During this period the rate of descent had accelerated rapidly, and the cage was nearly inverted. On impact both occupants suffered only minor injuries; a miraculous escape due to the orders given by Sergeant Small. His companion is on record as saying that he considered that he was about to be killed, and that he undoubtedly would have been but for Sergeant Small. Throughout the incident Sergeant Small's courage and presence of mind was beyond praise. By despatching two men in the most hazardous conditions, he saved them from serious injury or death, and lightened the cage at a critical period. By remaining with the last man, he undoubtedly saved his life, showing complete disregard for his own safety in the process. | 1961 | |
| Sergeant, RAF | For his part in the rescue of 2 men from a wrecked French trawler at Land's End. The trawler "Jeanne Gougy" ran aground and fell on her side. Sgt Eric Smith of 22 Squadron, Royal Air Force, volunteered to be lowered to the stricken French fishing vessel to rescue two trawlermen from inside the wheelhouse, which was continually being submerged by breaking waves. | 1963 | |
| Sergeant 2nd class, Queensland Police Force | Constable 1/c Gregory Olive of Kelvin Grove Police Station undertook a routine inquiry at a residence on 19 February 1962. After knocking at the door, the door swung open and a 47-year-old unemployed labourer fatally fired a.303 calibre rifle into Olive's chest. The sergeant attended, and ordered the labourer to surrender. After shots were fired by both parties, the door was kicked open, and the officer overpowered and disarmed the male. The offender was gaoled for life for wilful murder. | 1963 |
1970s
| Name | Rank and Unit | Action/Citation | Year awarded |
| Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police | Awarded to Major Biddle for his "outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty" in defusing four terrorist bombs, on 5 & 6 January and 19 May 1974, and 9 November 1975. | 1976 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | Called to a bank raid and confronted by three armed robbers, the officer was shot at several times and wounded whilst chasing the suspects in St John's Wood. | 1976 | |
| Lieutenant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Assisted in defusing a 40lb bomb at the Europa Hotel | 1972 | |
| Inspector, Metropolitan Police | With Inspector Purnell and Sergeant McVeigh, he was involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege. | 1977 | |
| Lieutenant Colonel, British Army | Defused bombs at a railway signal box and on the railway track at Dunloy Halt, near Ballymoney, County Antrim, which involved nearly 15 hours of very hazardous work | 1974 | |
| Sergeant, Metropolitan Police | Pursued and overpowered a wanted criminal despite his ramming a police car, driving a car at the officers on foot, and firing a shotgun at the officers involved, in Shepperton. | 1972 | |
| 23913522 Sergeant Garside, 10th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment | On 11 July 1979, during recruit cadre training at Sennybridge, Sergeant Garside was supervising live grenade throwing. A recruit pulled the safety pin, released the handle, then panicked, holding the grenade rather than dropping it. Sergeant Garside tried to hustle him out of the throwing bay but four seconds later the grenade detonated, killing him and wounding the recruit. He was a good soldier and a great loss. | 1980 | |
| Detective senior constable, Queensland Police Force | In Brisbane, a mentally-ill male with a history of violence drove a car into a light pole before leaving the car with a knife threatening to kill himself. While unarmed, the officer continued to persuade the man to surrender his weapons. After a distraction, the offender was overpowered. | 1973 | |
| Warrant Officer Class 1, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Awarded in recognition of outstanding bravery in Northern Ireland during the period 1 November 1972 to 31 January 1973. | 1973 | |
| Formula One Racing Driver | Hailwood pulled fellow driver Clay Regazzoni from his burning car during the 1973 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, setting fire to his own race suit in the process. | 1973 | |
| Explosives Officer, Metropolitan Police | For defusing a bomb containing of high explosive embedded with heavy metal coach screws on 13 October 1975. When later examined it was discovered that only two minutes to detonation remained on the timer. | 1976 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | For his involvement in an incident involving a kidnap attempt on the Princess Anne in The Mall, in which Inspector Jim Beaton was awarded the George Cross. PC Hills, despite having been shot in the stomach used his personal radio to contact Cannon Row Police Station reporting the situation and calling for assistance. | 1974 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | Involved in chasing, overcoming and disarming a PIRA terrorist after an explosion and shooting on a train near West Ham station. | 1977 | |
| Petty Officer Medical Assistant, Royal Navy | For rescuing an injured civilian during rioting in Belfast, after being shot, and having a bullet lodged in his throat, and refusing treatment until the civilian under his care had been treated first. | 1971 | |
| Lieutenant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | In recognition of outstanding bravery in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August to 31 October 1972. | 1973 | |
| Sergeant, Metropolitan Police | With Inspectors Purnell and Dowswell, involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege. | 1977 | |
| Sergeant, Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary | Whilst attending a break-in at the premises of a firearms dealer, he was shot in the leg and severely injured, yet disarmed an intruder who had just shot and fatally wounded a fellow police officer. | 1973 | |
| Inspector, Royal Ulster Constabulary | On the evening of 25 May 1971, when a bomb was thrown into the reception hall of the Springfield Road Police Station, Nurse and two other officers rapidly evacuated everyone present. Nurse remained until satisfied that everyone was clear, then having taken two children as far away as possible he threw himself over them to shield them from the blast. | 1971 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | In March 1978 he wrestled with an armed and dangerous man, after receiving a gun shot wound in the chest, while saving a colleague from death in Bethnal Green. | 1979 | |
| Formula One Racing Driver | For his attempt to save the life of his fellow driver Roger Williamson from a burning racing car during the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. | 1973 | |
| Inspector, Metropolitan Police | With Inspector Dowswell and Sergeant McVeigh, involved in an operation which intercepted a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit and resulted in the Balcombe Street Siege. | 1977 | |
| Area Manager, Exclusive Office Cleaning, London | He witnessed the attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne, and tackled an armed man, who had already shot four men, punching him on the back of the head and face. | 1974 | |
| Constable, Metropolitan Police | Slimon, an armed officer working for the Protection Service, was on his way to his post when encountered a bank robbery in progress. Inside the bank he confronted three armed raiders. One pointed a shotgun at him, and Slimon and the raider fired simultaneously. Slimon, although seriously wounded, then shot another raider as they ran out past him, then pursued them and saw them escape in a van. At this point more police officers arrived and Slimon was subsequently treated for gunshot wounds in his hands, arms and chest. Two of the thieves were wounded, one fatally. | 1973 | |
| Inspector, Greater Manchester Police | On 1 July 1975 Watkins was shot in the stomach when he tackled three men who had pulled a gun in an Indian restaurant in Rusholme. When the men were arrested, it emerged they were part of a Provisional IRA Active Service Unit sent to assassinate North West VIPs. Watkins was seriously injured but survived. Five men, part of a Manchester-based PIRA unit, were arrested in the aftermath of the shooting and were jailed in 1976 for a total of 627 years. | 1976 |