James Patrick Scully

Infobox Military Person
name=James Patrick Scully


caption=
born=20 October 1909
died=
placeofbirth=County Dublin
placeofdeath=
nickname=
allegiance=United Kingdom
branch=British Army
serviceyears=
rank=Corporal
unit=256 Company, Pioneer Corps
commands=
battles=World War II
awards=
relations=
laterwork=:"James Scully" redirects here. For the comic book character, see Skull the Slayer."Acting Corporal James Patrick Scully (born 20 October 1909) of the Pioneer Corps was awarded the George Cross for the valour he displayed on the 8 March 1941 in Liverpool in rescuing people from a bomb damaged building. He was originally from Dublin.cite web |url=http://www.gc-database.co.uk/recipients/ScullyJP.htm|title=James Patrick Scully, GC |publisher=George Cross database |accessdate=2007-11-22]

The citation was published in the London Gazette on the 8 July 1941, and reads: [LondonGazette|issue=35213|date=8 July 1941|startpage= 3919|accessdate=2007-11-22] cquote|The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the GEORGE CROSS, to:-

No. 13039555 Acting Corporal James Patrick Scully, Pioneer Corps. (Crunslin, Co. Dublin.)

Awarded the George Medal.

Lieutenant Charles Cummins Chittenden (163280), Pioneer Corps.

When houses were demolished by enemy action, a rescue party under the direction of Lieutenant Chittenden went to the incident and a search was made for trapped people.

Corporal Scully located a man and a woman and, with great difficulty, he managed to penetrate the debris and get to where they were buried. Lieutenant Chittenden followed him. Wood was obtained to use as props to shore up the debris, but there was no means of cutting it into proper lengths.

A rescue party then arrived with tools to cut some wood into more suitable lengths for shoring. All available help was mustered and the men worked tremendously hard in their efforts to clear away the wreckage. Corporal Scully remained with the trapped persons and prevented any more debris fallingon them. A long plank was inserted to take most of the weight but as the result of further falls the props began to sway out of position. There was then a very real danger of the mass of debris falling down and burying the injured persons. Realising this, Corporal Scully placed his back under the plank to try to prevent the props from giving way completely. He steadied them for a time but gradually the weight increased until the props slipped. This left Corporal Scully holding one end of the plank and Lieutenant Chittenden supporting the other. Corporal Scully could have got away at this stage, but he knew that if he did so the debris would fall and probably kill the trapped persons, so he stayed under the plank. Gradually the weight increased and forced Corporal Scullydown until he lay across the trapped man. Lieutenant Chittenden who was still holding one end of the plank reached over and supported Corporal Scully's head to prevent him from being suffocated by having his head pressed into the debris. He managed to keep Corporal Scully's face clear, but he was fast becoming exhausted. Despite this, he kept up his spirits and continued to talk encouragingly to the woman. The man was unconscious nearly all this time. Corporal Scully remained in this position throughout the night until, more than seven hours later, the rescue party were able to rescue him and the casualties.

When they first entered the house. Lieutenant Chittenden and Corporal Scully knew there was a grave risk of injury or death as the high walls nearby appeared about to collapse at any moment. Had this collapse occurred, they would have been buried under many tons of debris. Corporal Scully riskedhis life to save the two people and, though the position looked hopeless, Lieutenant Chittenden stayed with him.

Corporal Scully was the only member of the Pioneer Corps to be awarded the George Cross (although 13 George Medals and many other lesser awards have been won by Corps members.) He therefore remains the most highly decorated member of the Pioneer Corps and its successor, the Royal Pioneer Corps. [cite web|url=http://royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/history_awards.htm|title=The Pioneer — honours and awards|publisher=Royal Pioneer Corps Association|accessdate=2007-11-22]

References

ee also

*List of George Cross recipients