West End Museum holds so many interesting books, newspaper reports, facts, photographs and items of yesteryear. Our President, Bob Moody, who during his time was Scout Master of the 10th Itchen West End Troop of Scouts, was kind enough to lend us his scout and memorabilia collection which included newspaper reports about a former Wolf Cub and Scout Troop Leader who won the George Medal.
Melville Searle Thompson was a 17 year old apprentice tradesman in the Royal Engineers, whose home was in Hatley Road, Bitterne. In March 1941 he was a member of a fire fighting party detailed to tackle a fire during an air raid on Southampton. Several newspapers including the Southern Daily Echo reported that incendiary and high explosive bombs rained on buildings in the High Street, a fire bomb fell through the roof of a store setting material ablaze. After an Officer and two men broke into the burning room with a hose directing the water on the fire they where overcome by smoke and chemical fumes, and had to retire. Melville then wrapped a wet towel round his face and head and went in and hosed water onto the flames until they onto the flames until they died down.

Melville and his wife

Later he volunteered to enter another building of which the roof was ablaze and brought back a report. He acted regardless of the danger of the burning roof and collapsing ceilings.
Half an hour later he was seen sitting on the ground alone, directing a hose on another building which was blazing fiercely. Suddenly a high explosive bomb fell on the burning building and there was an explosion. Melville rolled on his back to avoid the blast, and a moment later resumed his original position and carried on with his fire fighting.
Afterwards he climbed on top of a wooden lean-to shed adjoining a building which was ablaze. His object was to direct a jet of water on to the fire. Owing to the low pressure of water, he realised that the jet would be more effective if operated from above ground level. He remained in his precarious and exposed position for a long time, when a helper shouted to him "Are you all right up there?", Melville looked down, grinned and made the "thumbs up" gesture.
Altogether he was engaged for more than six hours in strenuous fire fighting. Official Report on Boy Thompson from the London Gazette announcing his award of the George Medal was "He showed remarkable initiative as well as great devotion to duty, and complete disregard of danger".
Unofficial Report: Joined Wolf Cubs when he was seven, was a King's Scout when he joined Royal Engineers a month after war began; went to Itchen Secondary School. His father a Customs Officer, lives in Hatley Road, Bitterne, Southampton. What a great story! Bob said that on behalf of the Scouts, old Scouts and some friends on 2nd March 1941, Melville was presented with an inscribed watch to commemorate the G.M.award. A special entry was included in St James April 1941 Parish Magazine.
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