Albert George Wisbey - George Medal - 1940 Blitz Bravery

[Edmund]

Four Sheffield men and two Royal Army Service Corps men were awarded the George Medal in 1941, for heroism during the Sheffield Blitz in December 1940. The George Medal had been instituted by King George V1 on 24 September 1940, equating civilian acts of bravery with those of the armed forces.
There has been little recognition of these six brave men since the award of their medals, partly because of their own modesty.  However I think that with the approach of the 80th anniverary of the Sheffield Blitz, it's time to celebrate these men. Some have them are mentioned in books, notably Margaret Drinkall's "Story of Sheffield at War" - M Drinkall, Paul Licence's 'Sheffield Blitz' and the Star and Telegraph's 1948 publication Sheffield at War but even then gaps and major errors exist.  I have tried to gather whatever I could for each of these men - I think they deserve a thread each on this site - and hopefully others will be able to add further knowledge.

Corporal Albert George Wisbey was born on 25th July 1902 in Lowestoft, one of twin sons of Albert Arthur Wisbey (a farm bailiff) and Mary Annie.
The family later moved to Bishop's  Stortford.   Before the war Albert was a Green Line coach driver, but by 1939 he was driving for London Transport.

In 1940 he found himself stationed in Sheffield, in the Royal Army Service Corps No.6 Training Battalion, who were probably based at Endcliffe Hall.

From the London Gazette:   "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. St.James's Palace, S.W. 1  17th June, 1941.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Medal, for conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to the undermentioned:- No. T/108939 War Substantive Corporal Albert George Wisbey,  Royal Army Service Corps."

When incendiary bombs began to fall he organised a party to put them out.  He worked ceaselessly throughout the night and following morning following a Sheffield raid and after liberating a trapped woman and extricating her dead husband he removed the woman to an ambulance several streets away.  Wisbey next rescued another woman and her daughter.  In this case there were no ambulances available so Wisbey removed the woman to hospital himself.

Albert died on 7th March 1971 at 50 Newtown Road, Bishop's Stortford.