b. 1919 Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire. d. 02/10/1952 Govan, Glasgow, Scotland.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 02/10/1952 Govan, Glasgow, Scotland.
Very little is known about the life of Charles William Greenwood other than the incident which led to the posthumous award of the Albert Medal.
AM CITATION:
On 2nd October, 1952, Mr. Greenwood, a plumber employed by a firm engaged on contract work, was working on board H.M.S. Mull of Galloway, which was undergoing refit at a Glasgow shipyard. Whilst in a store room he glanced down an access hatch to a tank below and saw a Naval rating lying unconscious on the deck. Without further thought, Mr. Greenwood took off his jacket and went straight down to the unconscious man, at the same time calling for assistance. A rope was lowered for Greenwood to secure to the Naval rating, but before this could be achieved, Greenwood was overcome by fumes and collapsed. Two other workmen and a “Naval Officer attempted to rescue the two victims, but were unable to reach them before .they themselves felt the effects of the fumes and had to retire quickly. They were finally rescued by an ambulance squad equipped with oxygen masks but all efforts to resuscitate them were unsuccessful. This gallant attempt on the part of Greenwood is worthy of the highest praise. With his experience he must have known the risks of gas and asphyxiation in normally closed compartments, but without heed to any possible danger, he sacrificed his life in trying to save another man.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
