Background
His university studies were interrupted by his father’s death, as he had to take over the family dyeing and dry-cleaning business.
His university studies were interrupted by his father’s death, as he had to take over the family dyeing and dry-cleaning business.
Born in Brentford in October 1911, Eastman was educated at Uppingham School and Cambridge University. Having then attended the Inspecting Ordnance Officer’s course at Bramley, he was embarked for Malta in March 1940.
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 hostilities. Between June and November 1940 the island of Malta came under the combined attack from German and Italian airforces. As no Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal units had yet been formed, the job of attending to unexploded bombs and mines was handled by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
A high number of unexploded bombs needed defusing and Eastman, along with Robert Jephson Jones rendered safe some 275 devices with rudimentary equipment.
Notice of his award appeared in the London Gazette on Christmas Eve, 1940. 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.
On one occasion, these officers showed particular gallantry in dealing with an 1100lb. German bomb. Two attempts were made to explode this bomb but it failed to detonate.
At the third attempt when it was in a most dangerous state, they succeeded in detonating lieutenant
On a second occasion, these officers, assisted by a Master Rigger of Her Majesty Dockyard, succeeded in removing a 400lb. high explosive Italian unexploded bomb which had been under water for a week in a 20ft. deep well inside a house. This bomb, fused at both ends, was in a dangerous state. lieutenant had to be raised to the ground floor by means of a gin, tackle, sling and ropes.
This operation was doubly dangerous, as: (a) There was a possibility of the sling slipping while the bomb was being hauled up and (b) The bomb was two and half foot long, the mouth of the well three foot one inch wide, and for safety the bomb had to be kept horizontal, if possible, and pulled up thus.
Lieutenant Eastman assisted the Master Rigger, guided the bomb from the floor of the well, and Captain Jones went to the top to guide it through the opening. They succeeded in getting the bomb out although there was only a six inch clearance as it came through the mouth of the well.