Eric Lawrence Moxey
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader Eric Lawrence Moxey GC
(1894 - 27 August 1940) was a Royal Air Force
officer and a British recipient of the George Cross
.
Acting Squadron Leader Eric Lawrence Moxey was posthumously awarded the George Cross
for the courage he showed on the 27th of August 1940 in volunteering to remove two unexploded bombs which had buried themselves into an airfield. While he attempted to clear them, one exploded, killing him instantly.
A 46 year old member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
he was employed as a technical intelligence officer at the Air Ministry
. His citation, which appeared in the London Gazette
of the 17th of December 1940 - On the 27th August, 1940, it was reported that two unexploded bombs were embedded in an aerodrome. Squadron Leader Moxey, a technical intelligence officer empoloyed at the Air Ministry, immediately volunteered to proceed to the site and remove them, though from the nature of his duties he was very fully aware of the risk entailed in such an operation. On of the bombs exploded causing his death. On many occasions Squadron Leader Moxey has exhibited similar complete disregard for his personal safety.
His son, Nigel Hall Moxey, also died on service.
Moxey was born in Sao Paulo
, Brazil and educated in England, at Malvern School and Sheffield University. He was buried in the churchyard at Cudham, Orpington.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(1894 - 27 August 1940) was a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
officer and a British recipient of the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
.
Acting Squadron Leader Eric Lawrence Moxey was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the courage he showed on the 27th of August 1940 in volunteering to remove two unexploded bombs which had buried themselves into an airfield. While he attempted to clear them, one exploded, killing him instantly.
A 46 year old member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
he was employed as a technical intelligence officer at the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
. His citation, which appeared in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of the 17th of December 1940 - On the 27th August, 1940, it was reported that two unexploded bombs were embedded in an aerodrome. Squadron Leader Moxey, a technical intelligence officer empoloyed at the Air Ministry, immediately volunteered to proceed to the site and remove them, though from the nature of his duties he was very fully aware of the risk entailed in such an operation. On of the bombs exploded causing his death. On many occasions Squadron Leader Moxey has exhibited similar complete disregard for his personal safety.
His son, Nigel Hall Moxey, also died on service.
Moxey was born in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil and educated in England, at Malvern School and Sheffield University. He was buried in the churchyard at Cudham, Orpington.