Brigadier William Marsden Eastman, GC (26 October 1911 – 8 April 1980)[1] was a British Army officer who was awarded the George Cross for bomb disposal work between June and November 1940 on the island of Malta.
[2] His knowledge of chemicals learned through this career led to him being recommended for a commission in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on volunteering shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War.
[3] Between June and November 1940 the island of Malta came under the combined attack from German and Italian airforces.
A high number of unexploded bombs needed defusing and Eastman, along with Robert Jephson Jones rendered safe some 275 devices with rudimentary equipment.
[4] On various dates Lieutenant Eastman, with Captain R. L. J. Jones, R.A.O.C., worked under dangerous and trying conditions and performed acts of considerable gallantry in dealing with large numbers of various unexploded bombs, some of which were in a highly dangerous state and of the German delay type.