Two “courageous and inspirational” soldiers who averted disaster in Bermondsey during last March’s unexploded bomb scare are to be honoured.
The ammunition technicians from the Royal Logistics Corps risked their lives to make safe the huge 250lb explosive, which could have destroyed hundreds of homes if it had detonated.
Staff Sergeant Edward Clinton and Staff Sergeant Richard McKinnon spent two days working on the UXO, while thousands of Bermondsey residents were ordered to leave their homes and nearby businesses and schools were evacuated.
The pair worked on shifts overnight on March 23, before the bomb was finally removed from the Grange Walk building site and exploded safely in Kent.
The pair will be awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for “inspirational and courageous action in the face of an ageing and lethal weapon, in an unknown state undoubtedly prevented loss of life and is especially worthy of public recognition.”