| Citation: | Germany. Citation for BEM: On the 14th June, 1945, there was a serious explosion in FLENSBURGH as a result of a German ammunition dump blowing up. Sergeant Fitch was carrying out security duties on board S.S. "Patria", a German ship, which was being used by SHAEF Mission as their Headquarters; the ship being 500 yards from the scene of the explosion. Many Germans lost their lives and severe fires broke out. Without a thought for his own safety, Sergeant Fitch immediately went ashore, carried out a reconnaissance of the neighbour hood where there was considerable confusion and established a road-block to prevent traffic impeding rescue and fire services, and also arranged traffic diversions to keep unessential traffic from the scene of the explosion. After having handed over to the German Police, he visited the scene of the fire and discovered that it was spreading rapidly and also that a large number of depth charges were likely to explode at any moment. He returned to S.S. "Patria" and gare this information to the ship's Executive Officer, who ordered him to evacuate all Allied and German personnel from the ship. Serjeant Fitch completed this evacuation and then returned to the ship. National Archive WO 373/69 Pt.1. |
