Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 8, 1981
• Invested on: September 18, 1981

Russell Charles Cribb, M.B.
Eric Roy Willmott, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Messrs. Russell Charles Cribb and Eric Roy Willmott saved a woman and her infant daughter from a fire that destroyed her trailer home on 16 December 1978. The woman had managed to help three of her children to escape through a window but then she and the youngest were overcome by smoke and trapped inside the burning dwelling. As soon as Mr. Willmott, a brother-in-law, arrived he pushed a door open, directed a young neighbour to keep shouting near the doorway in order to give him a sense of direction and he entered the smoke filled interior on hands and knees. He had to retreat to get oxygen. However on a second attempt he located child some three metres from the entrance and carried her out. Mr. Cribb took over but the smoke was so thick and the heat so intense that he had to brave the blaze three times before rescuing the woman. Prior to the third try he broke some windows to let the smoke escape then rushed in and brought the victim out. Minutes later the roof of the mobile home caved in.