World War II George Cross Recipient. He was gazetted for the award on December 24, 1940 for his actions as a bomb disposal officer on the island of Malta from June to November 1940 while serving in the British Royal Army Ordinance Corps during World War II. Born in Brentford, Greater London, England, his father operated a dyeing and dry cleaning business. He attended Uppingham School in Rutland, England and Cambridge University in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, which was cut short upon the death of his father and he took over the family business. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, he was recommended for a commission in the British Royal Army Ordinance Corps and was given the rank of lieutenant. After receiving his initial training course, he was sent to Malta in March 1940. From June of that year until November, Malta was subject to repeated air attacks from German and Italian bomber aircraft and he was one of two (the other being Robert Jephson Junes) who were required to defuse unexploded bombs, rendering 275 of them safe by using only rudimentary equipment. Following the end of World War II, he commanded the British Royal Army Ordnance Corps and retired in that position in 1966. He then relocated to Sliema, Malta where he died at the age of 68. In addition to the George Cross, he also received the 1939-1945 Star, and the War Medal 1939-1945. His George Cross citation award reads: "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 it. On a second occasion, these officers, assisted by a Master Rigger of H.M. 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. It 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 ft. long, the mouth of the well three ft. 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."