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
NameRank and Unit Action/CitationYearawarded 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 Type-74 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 CorpsFor 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 (Army officer), 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 Civilian In recognition of his courage and complete disregard of his own safety in going to the rescue of a young girl who had been attacked by a shark at Oakura Beach on 8 January 1966. 1966 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. 1967Ski professional/minerGeorge J. Preissler helped to rescue Heinrich W. Wenzel following a cave-in, Britannia Beach, British Columbia, 1 November 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 violent 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. 1963Company Sergeant Major, 10th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, TAOn 14 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.1961Sergeant, RAFFor 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.1963Leonard Ford (formerly Sykes)Electrician/CivilianMr. Ford was working in his employer's premises when he was told that people were trapped on the upper floors of a building which was on fire.