Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 15, 1985
• Invested on: December 06, 1985

On 12 May 1984, WO. Gerry Forward was contacted by City Police regarding a suicidal servicewoman previously supervised by him. Responding to the call, he went to her apartment where police briefed him that the distraught and apparently drugged woman was armed with a pistol, and very uncooperative. Although untrained for such situations and warned that he would have minimal cover, WO. Forward volunteered to attempt to save the woman rather than risk her death by waiting. Allowed by the woman to enter, he began to win her confidence, convincing her to place the gun on the floor. As he slowly moved nearer, she sensed his purpose, seized the weapon and threatened him. Calmly, he began again. Eventually, she placed the gun on the floor. This time he moved quickly, pinned her to the couch with the coffee table and grabbed the pistol. The police rushed in to take control. WO. Forward's judgement was correct: the woman would soon have succumbed to an overdose of drugs an alcohol.