George Walter Inwood, GC (22 September 1905 – 16 October 1940) was a soldier of the British Home Guard during the Second World War who was posthumously awarded the

George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been ...

for the "highest form of cool courage and self-sacrifice for others" he displayed on the night of the 15/16 October 1940 during the Birmingham Blitz.

Early life

Inwood was born on 22 September 1905, the son of George Walter Inwood (also known as William Thomas Inwood) and Margaret Caroline (née Jones) and was baptised in St. Martin's, Birmingham, on 11 October 1905. He is buried in plot 46739 of Yardley Cemetery in Birmingham.

Second World War

During the Second World War, in 1940 Inwood joined the Home Guard and was posted to the 10th Birmingham (Public Utilities) Battalion Following an air raid on Birmingham on the night of 15/16th October 1940, Inwood was asked by the police with assisting in rescue duty in Bishop Street. Taking charge of a party of six volunteers, Inwood found several people were imprisoned in a gas-filled cellar. A small hole was made and Inwood was lowered into the cavity. He brought up two men and then, although nearly exhausted, he entered the cavern a third time and was overcome by the fumes, being dragged out by one of his comrades. Despite medical attention, Inwood was unable to be revived. For his efforts, in displaying "the highest form of cool courage and self-sacrifice for others", Inwood was posthumously awarded the

. Notice of his Inwood's George Cross appeared in the ''

London Gazette London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

'' on 27 May 1941, reading: His widow received his award at an investiture on 10 October 1941. The medal is now displayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.BMAG display label

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inwood, George Walter 1905 births 1940 deaths British Home Guard soldiers British recipients of the George Cross British military personnel killed in World War II Military personnel from Birmingham, West Midlands Deaths by German airstrikes during The Blitz Burials in West Midlands (region)