Footnotes

• George Medal London Gazette 3.12.1942.
  
  C.S.M. Leslie showed outstanding courage and personal bravery in rescue work during the night of 26th/27th April and on the following days. The Regina Hotel had been hit and although the raid was still in progress he made his way into the basement through a small hole which allowed only one man to enter at a time, and himself rescued a number of people. A woman was trapped by falling masonry and hanging by the knees. Leslie supported her for a considerable time while other men worked at the masonry to release her. During this time there was such danger that both might be killed by falling masonry that they were covered with a sheet so that they could not see the falling blocks. There was imminent danger of fire and at one period Leslie had to be doused with water to prevent his clothes catching fire, but throughout it all he never wavered.
  During the same night Leslie swarmed up the side of a shop and tore down a blazing shop blind and fixture in an attempt to prevent the spread of fire after the fireman had given up the task as hopeless.
  
  The lot comes with an assortment of original items as follows:
  
  Box for the George Medal; a photograph of him and family outside Buckingham Palace, he is wearing Home Guard Unifrom and has rank of Second Lieutenant on shoulders; Battalion Order No.139 with full citation for GM and the 3 BEMs in the same action; Two Witness invitations for Investiture; Letter of Congratulation from G.P.O. Headquarters; various newspaper cuttings about the action; A Scots Guards Diary for 1929, he being posted at Shanghai; newspaper cutting from the Daily Express with photo of him outside Buckingham Palace; a copy of the Bath and Wilts Chronicle for 4.12.1942 with further details of the action and those involved with it; letter to him from E.S.Wood at the Admiralty congratulating him on his award; newspaper cutting where Leslie attempted to save the life of a Private Prince whilst stationed in China with the Scots Guards.
  
  He was originally from Oxted in Surrey and served with the 6th Somerset Battalion Home Guard.

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Category: Coins / Coins and Banknotes

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