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Awards for Gallantry
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Thomas Burke |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 1951 | ||
| Colliery: | Littleburn Colliery | ||
| Occupation: | Stoneman | ||
Award of British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division) :—
George Robert Glasgow, Deputy, Littleburn Colliery, National Coal Board. (Brandon, Co. Durham.)
Thomas Burke, Stoneman, Littleburn Colliery, National Coal Board. (Langley Moor, Co. Durham.)
The river Browney, which was in heavy spate, broke through into the main intake airway and haulage road of Littleburn Colliery. The quantity of water entering the mine was so enormous that the whole of the mine was completely flooded within two hours.
The first man to notice the flooding was Burke. He made gallant attempts, under frightening conditions and at very great risk, to warn the men inbye. He eventually succeeded in getting a telephone message through to one of the inbye districts and this message probably saved the lives of the men in the 5th Right District.
Glasgow was the deputy in charge of the 4th Left District and was at his meeting station when the water reached it. He sent a warning to the deputy in charge of 5th Left District and sent his men back via an emergency exit at the inbye end of the mine. Realising that the men in the 5th Right District on the outbye side were in extreme danger, and not knowing that they had been warned by Burke, he attempted to go back through the flood to warn them but by this time the water was 5 feet deep and he was forced back. He returned and caught up with his men and then, with one of the miners, he tried another route and met the party making their way towards the emergency exit.
Burke and Glasgow could have easily escaped when the first inrush of water occurred but instead of looking to their own safety did their best to warn the others.
King's Commendations for Brave Conduct
Matthew Drenon, Stoneman, Littleburn Colliery, Co. Durham, National Coal Board.
Thomas Drenon, Stoneman, Littleburn Colliery, Co. Durham, National Coal Board.
For services when a mine was flooded.
Source: London Gazette (13 Mar 1951)
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| Researchers | |
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| Researcher | Date | Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| paul burke | 07 Jan 2010 |
to find out information on my grandads brother as my grandad always spoke about him to me but i never got to meet him |
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| Jake metcalfe | 13 May 2016 |
Wanting to know more about my family I am grate grandson to Robert Burke and violett Burke |
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