Acting Lieutenant Commander Ernest Oliver “MICK” GIDDEN of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, known as “the Man Who Saved Charing Cross,” was the first person to be awarded both the George Cross and George Medal, garnered for his actions in dealing with a German parachute mine in April 1941.
Lieutenant Commander Gidden arrived at Hungerford Bridge, just outside London’s Charing Cross Station, shortly before dawn and discovered the explosive lying across a live electric wire at the foot of the main signal gantry. Both the bomb’s fuse and primer release mechanism were facing the ground.
Turning the mine was likely to detonate it, with disastrous results for railway communications and important buildings. To control the defusing operation with accuracy, Gidden stood only 50 yards from the mine.
He then attempted to remove the remains of the screw-threaded ring (which held the fuse in place) with a hammer and chisel.
At the first blow, the clockwork in the fuse started to run. Gidden, who had kept his head close to the fuse, heard the ticking and got clear as best he could, but as it was necessary to jump from railroad tie to railroad tie, with a 10-foot drop below, there was little chance of escape.
As it happened, the makeshift “gag” he fitted to prevent detonation held, and Gidden returned with a drill. He succeeded in removing the ring but then found it necessary to pry the fuse out with a chisel. This he successfully did despite its dangerous condition. This incredible operation took six hours to complete.
Gidden’s “London Blitz” medals, including the George Cross (GC), the George Medal (GM), and an Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal, were auctioned in March and bought by a collector of George Medals in Canada. Only eight men ever have been awarded the combination of the GC and GM, and the addition of the OBE makes this a unique combination of awards.
