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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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William Carr |
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British Empire Medal (Civil Division) | |||
| Date: | 12 Jan 1954 | ||
| Colliery: | Hazlerigg Colliery | ||
| Occupation: | Overman | ||
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division):—
William Carr, Backshift Overman, Hazlerigg Colliery, Northumberland, National Coal Board (Newcastle-on-Tyne).
While carrying out a pre-shift inspection at Hazlerigg Colliery, a deputy and a salvage worker encountered black-damp in a conveyor road. The deputy collapsed and the salvage worker began to feel the effects of the black-damp and ran out to the main road where he met and explained the situation to Carr.
Taking the precaution to leave open the entrance door to the district to increase the air supply Carr entered the conveyor road. He had gone only a few yards down the road when his flame safety lamp was extinguished by the gas and he had to return to the main road to relight it. He again went in search of the collapsed man but was forced to retreat because of the effects of the black-damp. He made three further attempts to reach the deputy but had to retreat on each occasion although on the last attempt he managed to attach a piece of belting to the man's leg. Going in again he dragged the man for a few yards by means of the belting and finally got him to the main road. Despite efforts to revive him, however, the deputy was found to be dead.
As an Overman, Carr knew the dangers he faced and that if he had collapsed in the conveyor road it would probably have been fatal.
Source: London Gazette (22 Jun 1954)
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