| Gallantry |
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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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George Christopher Heslop |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 17 Dec 1935 | ||
| Colliery: | Loftus Ironstone Mine | ||
| Occupation: | Agent and Manager | ||
 | Whos Who entry for George Christopher Heslop | ||
Award of Edward Medal
Whitehall, May 17, 1936.
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal to George Christopher Heslop, in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances :—
At about 8.30 a.m. on the 17th December, 1935, a fall of roof occurred at the Loftus Ironstone Mine, Yorkshire, and two workmen, John Cooper Henry and Henry Murrell, were buried in the debris.
Mr. Heslop, who is the Agent and Manager of the mine, arrived on the scene at about 9 a.m. and although falls were still occurring and there was considerable roof movement so that the workers in the mine had not ventured to go to the rescue of the two men, Mr. Heslop crawled for about four yards under the fall into a cavity of about two feet until he reached Henry, from whose face he removed stones, but whom he was unable to free as there was a baulk across his legs.
He then instructed the men to pile a road through the fall to protect Henry from further falls and to expedite his release. Afterwards he again crawled under the fall, a distance of three to four yards, and located Murrell who was pinned by one of his feet. Mr. Heslop gave him a stimulant and then worked strenuously for four hours in a cavity so small that there was room for only one person, until he liberated him alive. Falls were continually occurring and he was in such danger that workmen and officials repeatedly urged him to withdraw.
After Murrell was released, Mr. Heslop again crawled into the cavity to Henry and supervised the cutting of the runner baulk by which he was pinned and was able to release him alive after he had been imprisoned for eight hours. Shortly after there was a heavy fall and the whole of the piling which had been erected to assist in his release collapsed.
In rescuing these men (both of whom unfortunately died later of shock) Mr. Heslop showed outstanding courage and was exposed to very great personal risk.
Source: London Gazette (17 May 1936)
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| Researchers | |
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| Researcher | Date | Interest | |
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| Mark Green | 26 May 2016 |
I run a website called www.victoriacrossonline.co.uk and I have a page to each of the VC and GC holders and i am researching George Heslop EM,MC and believe that the information I have on his last resting place is incorrect. It is stated he lies in an unmarked grave in Saltburn Cemetery, North Yorkshire, but having contacted the authorities there, they confirm he is not buried there....anyone know his final resting place? He died 29/03/1978 in Cleveland |
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