5th March 1943
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL FOR LOCAL YOUTH

An 18 year-old Pontefract youth, Gilbert Gingell, of Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract, who is now in the Royal Navy, has been awarded the British Empire Medal, [Civil Division] for brave conduct in an attempted rescue of the crew of an R.A.F. bomber which crashed and caught fire. He and two other men ran towards it. The flames were spreading, and ammunition was exploding continuously, but they smashed open the machine and brought out one of the occupants. With help, Gingell forced his way further into the burning aircraft and recovered two more bodies; and work continued until the intensity of the flames made further rescue attempts impossible. Unfortunately all the crew died, but the gallantry of the three men has been recognised. One of Gingell’s companions, who is also now a seaman, has received the B.E.M. and the other has been commended for brave conduct. Gingell was burnt on the arms, but was at work the following day. When he was only fifteen he was trapped by a fall of roof at the Prince of Wales Colliery, and his rescuers were surprised to find him alive. One of his legs was broken in three places, and he was unconscious when dragged out. He has volunteered for the submarine service, as he says, he "wants excitement."

5th March 1943 
AIRMAN MISSING

News has been received by Mr. and Mrs. H. Dransfield, late of Hillside, Park Lane, Pontefract, and now of Greaves Road, Lancaster, that their only son, Sergeant Maurice Dransfield, is missing from an operational flight over enemy country.