British War Medal (LIEUT. C.G. ATKINSON.); Victory Medal (LIEUT. C.G. ATKINSON.); Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937 - unnamed as awarded.
Clifford Garnet Atkinson was not rewarded for his bravery in WWI although he committed a very brave act indeed. Born in Wandsworth. London on 18 October 1884. He qualified as an Engineer before being commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 26 March 1917, and being posted to Mesopotamia on 20 November 1917.
It was whilst on his way to Mesopotamia that he committed his act of bravery. The Wimbledon News of 22 December 1917 carried the following report,
"Gallant Exploit By a Wimbledon Officer - News has just reached England of a gallant exploit by Second Lieutenant Clifford G Atkinson, RE, and sixteen sappers, who at the time of its performance, were on route for a distant theatre of war. Lt CG Atkinson received his military training in the Artist's Rifles OTC and at the RE Cadet School. At the time of joining the Colours he was holding the appointment of Surveyor to the Chertsey Rural Council, for which position he vacated the assistant surveyorship of Wellingborough, Northants. For several years he worked in the offices of the Wimbledon Corporation.
On the morning of 28 October 1917, after three days tropical rain, the ____ river developed into a raging torrent. It had risen some 25 feet and was in flood half a mile wide, with waves as large as seen at sea. The waters were rushing along at twenty miles an hour, carrying everything before them. Houses, trees, human beings, alive and dead, horses, mules and debris of all descriptions gave way to the impetus and were swept away. Information reached the Rest Camp that a whole Coolie village by the river was under water, and the position of the inhabitants was desperate. Could they be rescued!
Lieut. Atkinson volunteered to raise and lead a rescue party and accompanied by sixteen sappers he went by motor ambulance to _____. The party started their hazardous enterprise without breakfast; all of them were already wet through, having been up right through the previous night owing to the camp tents being blown down upon them. Working their way along the river bank the rescue party observed when nearing _____ that a whole native village was almost inundated. The inhabitants were sitting on the roofs of their dwellings with the flood at their feet.
The officer and men secured a boat and towed it some two miles up river, wading most of the time through mud and water up to the waist. This operation occupied about three and a half hours. The attempt was then made to cross over and reach the isolated village. After strenuous efforts to make a passage across most treacherous waters, the boat eventually reached the first house. Here 16 blacks were rescued. The boat was then worked down and across the river and the natives landed at a point whence their rescuers started. Then the boat was again towed up river and the same trying experience gone through again and again.
In all Lt Atkinson and his splendid men were instrumental in saving some 30 natives and also three mules. The part returned to camp having had nothing to pass their lips for 24 hours and with not a dry stitch among them.
Recognition of his gallant performance is on record, as follows, "The Officer Commanding .....expresses his appreciation of the services of Sec. Lieut. Atkinson, R.E. and 16 men .... for their work in rescuing natives during the flood in ......on 28th October 1917. The work was both arduous and dangerous and was carried out in a highly commendable manner."
Atkinson went on to earn the '35 Jubilee and '37 Coronation Medal as the Engineer and Surveyor Urban District Council Horsham.
The 1939 Register has him living in Horsham and leader of "Decontamination parties"
The West Sussex Country Times of 8 August 1961 carries his obituary.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research.
