Page 11 - The Constructor 2017

The Master’s Year

On the afternoon of the 12 May 2016 reports
were received of a possible unexploded bomb
found during the excavation of a school
playground in a residential area of Bath. The local
police immediately responded by evacuating
1,100 properties to ensure imminent threat to life
was reduced. Corporal Fraser, leading the Air
Dropped Weapons mitigation section, received
authorisation to deploy to the area.
Upon arrival, and following an initial brief by the
Bomb Disposal Operator, it was identified that the
device was a 500kg WWII Luftwaffe bomb, with
the capability to kill and cause significant damage
if initiated. With the device having spent the last
70 years buried beneath the ground, there was
uncertainty over its sensitivity to shock or any
slightest movement.
Early in the morning, the task was made more challenging by the low light levels and confined space
available around the bomb. Moreover, in a multi-agency environment and under significant public
scrutiny, Corporal Fraser was under significant pressure to complete the task quickly. In this context,
he remained utterly professional. Corporal Fraser’s team spent the next 12 hours constructing the
mitigation shelter. It is undoubtedly as a result of his leadership, bravery and focus that his team
were able to deliver the task so rapidly without the requirement to be relieved by others
Corporal Fraser demonstrated the upmost leadership, professional character and bravery when
facing a very intense and dangerous situation; he is most deserving of official recognition.
HMS LANCASTER PRIZE
No HMS Lancaster prize was awarded in 2017 as HMS
Lancaster was in deep refit and there was no ship’s
company. The prize was therefore donated to the Royal
Navy & Royal Marines Charity and was received on their
behalf by Captain Philip Nash RN, Captain Surface Ships,
Portsmouth, who is pictured left accepting the donation
from the Master of the Worshipful Company of
Constructors, Ian Mason.

5001 Sqn RAF - Air Cdre DOW Trophy - Sgt GRAY
Sgt Gray has stood above all his peers on 5001 Sqn Operations Flt in his unfailing support of the
build, and maintenance, of Technical Working Environments (TWE) over the last 12 months.
As one of the few General Technician (Electrical) on the flight, Sgt Gray is often called away on tasks
at very short notice; it is a mark of this individual that his enthusiasm for deployment is still as strong
as it was when he was first posted onto the Sqn. In his own words, he ‘lives for’ Expeditionary
Operations and this can be seen in every aspect of his work.

Autumn 2017 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | 11