Thomas Alderson

Thomas Hopper Alderson, GC (15 September 1903 – 28 October 1965) was a British Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden in Bridlington, and the first person to be directly awarded the George Cross (GC) shortly after its creation in 1940.

Born in Sunderland, Alderson was educated in West Hartlepool. After leaving school at 15, he joined the Merchant Navy as an engineer but gave up seafaring in 1935. He worked in Bridlington at the time of the Second World War, where he was an Air Raid Warden. His GC was awarded to recognise his bravery in rescuing civilians trapped in bombed out buildings. After the war, he served in the Civil Defence Corps. He died of cancer in Driffield, aged 62.

Early life Born on 15 September 1903 at Ashburne Stables, Sunderland, Alderson was the fifth of six children of domestic coachman Thomas Alderson (1864–1945) and Sarah Annie (1872–1942), née Hopper. He went first to his local village school and then to Elwick Road senior boys' school, West Hartlepool, becoming Head Boy. During World War I he was present at the bombardment of West Hartlepool by the German High Seas Fleet on 16 December 1914.

Career After leaving school at 15, Alderson first worked as an office boy and then a draughtsman, before undertaking an engineering apprenticeship. He joined the Merchant Navy, becoming a first engineer. On 23 December 1932, he married Irene Doris (1899–1991), the daughter of agent Frederick R. A. Johnson, of West Hartlepool. Following the birth of his daughter in 1935 he became an engineer for West Hartlepool council. He also taught technical drawing at a night school for extra income. He moved to Bridlington in 1938 as works supervisor for the Bridlington Corporation. Local authorities were responsible for air raid precautions and trained their own workforces in rescue work. Alderson attended an anti-gas school at Easingwold, near York, and became an instructor in the subject.

He was the first person to receive the GC from King George VI, and in a radio broadcast at the time insisted that his award was for all the rescue parties in Bridlington.