Coventry At War. A few brief notes.
Special Constable Frederick Barat. Born 14 March 1890 married to Florence Barat and residing at 135 Poole Road, Coventry. Main employment as Park Keeper. Injured during an air raid at Lyhalls Lane, Foleshaw 14 November 1940. Died later the same day at Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital aged 50 years. RIP.
Special Constable Arthur Frederick Matts, MBE. Born 1892. Married to Florence Beatrice Matts and residing at 6 Stoke Green, Coventry. Builder and Contractor and Freeman of the City of Coventry. Commandant of Coventry Special Constabulary. On duty at Central Police Station on 8 April 1940 when injured during an air raid. Died on his injuries at Warwick Hospital on 10 April 1940. RIP.
Police Messenger Thomas Rowland Lowry. Born 1924 and residing at 42 Gordon Street, Coventry. Employed at British Thomason-Houston Company Limited. Messenger with Coventry Police Auxillary Messenger Service. Killed on duty during an air raid on 14 November 1940 at Jordan Well. Aged 16 Years. RIP.
Special Constable Brandon Moss born 5 June 1909 Married with two children. Employed as a builder. Special Constable. On the night of 14 November 1940 on duty with fellow SC at Clay Lane, Stoke. Talking with two air raid wardens when sound of falling bomb heard. His colleague and the two wardens sought cover between two houses whilst SC Moss threw himself onto the road. Bomb struck one of the houses next to where the three men were sheltering causing a wall to fall onto them killing all three instantly. RIP. The house was demolished by the blast. SC Brandon immediately set to work to burrow into the rubble, joined shortly afterwards by a resuce squad. He worked without break from 11:0pm until 6:30am the following day refusing refreshment breaks. Continued to work despite a delayed action bomb, not yet detonated, being some 20 yards away. Eventually he broke through into what had been the living room of the house and discovered three badly injured residents. All three were successfully rescued. He then continued to work through the remains of the house until he broke through what was left of the outside wall and reached the bodies of his comrades.
On 13 December 1940 an account was published in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette. 'The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross to Brandon Moss, Special Constable, Coventry Special Constabulary....'
In 1965 he was awarded a £100 annuity by HMG in recognition of his outstanding bravery. This payment intented to give holders of the George Cross a financial reward on a par with recipients of the Victoria Cross.
Brandon Moss died on 9 August 1999 at Coventry. RIP.