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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Richard Raylton Joicey
	George Medal
	Date:	1956
	Colliery:	Walker Naval Yard
	Occupation:	Ship Manager

 

Awarded the George Medal:—

Richard Raylton Joicey, Ship Manager, Walker Naval Yard, Newcastle on Tyne. (Ponteland.)

Some men were engaged in fixing steel racks in the forward magazine of a ship, the only access to which was a ladder from a small hatchway opening in the mess deck. An accident occurred, and a fire broke out. The main oxygen supply from ashore to the welding equipment on board ship was turned on, the magazine became rich in oxygen and an intense conflagration developed rapidly as cables and hoses caught fire.

Joicey immediately went on board and organised rescue operations. Protected only by his wet duffle coat and scarf wrapped over his mouth, he forced his way through dense smoke and flames to the mess deck. He attempted to go down into the magazine but half-way down was forced to turn back. His calls to the men in the magazine were unanswered and later they were found to have been burned to death. Joicey then went to the forward position of No. 2 deck and found four men cut off by flames and smoke. At the second attempt he succeeded in bringing them to safety through the flames. After pouring water over his clothing he returned to the mess deck and tried again to force his way into the magazine but was once more beaten back by the flames.

Joicey's rescue work was carried out in a cool and calculated manner, without any regard for the possible consequences to himself, and resulted in the saving of four lives.

Source: London Gazette (03 Jul 1956)

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	Brian Tate	10 Mar 2013	Joicey family
	sue	20 Sep 2015	My adopted father, a lovely man, may have been related to RRJ.

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