Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: May 9, 1983
• Invested on: September 09, 1983

Gerda Anna McCauley saved her two grandchildren from a house fire. In the early hours of 20 June 1982, Mrs. McCauley awoke, choking from smoke that filled her bedroom. She felt her way to the house's only door and found it barred by flames. Calmly, she woke both children and took them to the living-room where she broke the front window and climbed out. Perched precariously on garden furniture she reached inside and lifted her granddaughter out. Her grandson, meanwhile, had returned to his bedroom. With difficulty, Mrs. McCauley climbed back into the smoke-filled house, made her way to the bedroom, located the frantic child and carried him to the window. As flames consumed the house behind her, she lowered the child, then herself to safety.