The George Medal

The George Medal

A second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. The GM was instituted on the 24 September, 1940 by King George VI. The GM is awarded for acts of great bravery.

 

1960 - Alfred David Coxall

Awarded to Coxall for gallantry for the rescue of student George Van Roosmalen who became entangled in his static line on one of his first jumps. Instructor Coxall cut the static line partially through with a piece of glass from the instrument panel and then, noticing that student Roosmalen's right hand was tangled in the static line thus making it impossible for him to pull his reserve, Coxall slid down the static line with a spare static line and attempted to lash his own harness to the harness of student Roosmalen. At this point, the student's static line broke and Coxall pulled student Roosmalen's reserve, pushed him away and then opened his own chute.

Alfred Coxall was a D licence jumper, senior rigger and pilot who started at St. Thomas, Grand Valley and Chilliwack clubs and was also an original member of the Toronto Club. He was on the 1960 Canadian Team and also served the Parachute Club of Canada as the National Safety Officer for a number of years.