The citation for receiving the George Cross is given in the CWGC entry.
He is listed in the Scout Roll of Honour 1939-45 as having served with the Merchant Navy. He was involved with the Offerton (1st Sunderland) Group.
Herbert Henry Reed is remembered in Sunderland on S140.040, S140.047 page 9 and S140.078
Is he the "L/Bdr. H.H. Reed" listed as having been recovered from a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp on S140.147 page 42?