The night of August 22 1940, George Henry Leach was at home. It was nearing midnight when he heard the bombers overhead, then a deafening explosion. George observing the flames from his window took to his bicycle and cycled for two miles until he reached the scene.

A Lengthman with Southern Railway, it perhaps came as no surprise that a train had been hit. A train with fifty or more wagons drew into a siding some ten days before, each truck packed full of ammunition destined for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps for re-issue.

George Leach wasn't the first to arrive; he looked up to see his work-mate George Keen amongst the flames attempting to push the trucks. George, a Sub Ganger, was trying to uncouple the burning trucks at the back in order to push them away from the rest of the explosives, but his efforts weren't successful and he had no option but to start unhooking them one by one at the other end, pushing them away from the burning carriages.

With munitions exploding, debris shooting in all directions, and regardless of personal safety, George Keen and those who gathered to help, including George Leach, members of the local Fire Services and an unknown soldier placed themselves in great danger to save the lives of others. Three, possibly as many as six wagons were totally destroyed, but the remaining carriages and the lives of countless people were undoubtedly saved.

Both George Frederick William Keen and George Henry Leach were awarded George Medals for the part they played on the night of 22 August, early hours of 23 August 1940. George Keen summoned to attend the investiture at Buckingham Palace on 27 May 1941 to receive his medal from the King, unfortunately died in Guildford hospital just two days before it was to take place aged 43. George Henry Leach lived until January 1994, aged 91 years.