Miss Rosalie Gassman, a 29-year-old Jewish girl residing in London’s East End, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for heroism, it was announced today. Miss Gassman is the first woman to receive the new medal. The award was instituted only two weeks ago and takes precedence over the Order of the British Empire, hitherto the chief award for civilians, except for the George Medal.
The citation stated that the award was made in recognition of Miss Gassman’s exceptional conduct as a telephone operator at an auxiliary fire station during a severe air-raid. She remained on duty throughout the night after a bomb falling outside the station caused the collapse of the garage in which the station was housed. In addition to maintaining the post’s communications, she cared for several casualties. Miss Gassman is chairman of the British W.I.Z.O. Youth Center.
The George Medal for gallantry has been awarded to a Jewish auxiliary fireman, Andrew Nunes Navarro, of Portsmouth. According to his citation, he took charge of operations to rescue people from collapsing buildings and to control fires during a heavy raid on the town.
Corporal Leslie Ginsberg, of the Royal Fusiliers, has been awarded the Military Medal for “gallant and distinguished services” in the Middle East.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
