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Awards for Gallantry
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John Kerr |
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British Empire Medal (Civil Division) | |||
| Date: | 1944 | ||
| Colliery: | South Medomsley | ||
| Occupation: | Deputy | ||
Award of British Emprire Medal
Central Chancery Of The Orders Of Knighthood.
St, James's Palace, S.W.1.
26th September, 1944.
The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following awards of the George Medal and of the British Empire Medal, and for the publication in the London Gazette of the names of the persons specially shown below as having received an expression of Commendation for their brave conduct.
Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division):—
John Kerr, Deputy Overman, South Medomsley Colliery, Durham.
Two hewers were engaged in extracting a small stock of coal in a working 2 feet 8 inches high, and a putter had attached his pony to a tub standing there, when, without the slightest warning, the roof collapsed over a large area. A huge stone completely covered one of the hewers and the putter. The pony was also trapped under the debris.
The other hewer gave the alarm and Deputy Overman Kerr was quickly on the scene. After sending for help he set to work to release the trapped man. He sat over the pony's head, cut off the leather gears and dragged out the pony, which was pressing against the hewer's body. He then crawled under the large stone, sawed through the limbers, which were pressing against the man's head, and with assistance carried on clearing away stone and coal until 45 minutes later the hewer was liberated.
Kerr carried on for a further three hours, until the putter's body was extricated during which time the rescue- party had to withdraw hurriedly on two occasions owing to further collapse of the roof.
Kerr showed courage without regard for his own safety and was instrumental in saving a man's life.
Commendations.
Those named below have been Commended for brave conduct.
When carrying out rescue work in coal mines:—
William Baker, Coal Hewer, South Medomsley Colliery, Durham.
John Llewellyn Davies, Repairer, Carway Colliery, Carmarthenshire.
Willis Howard Edmunds, Fireman, Carway Colliery, Carmarthenshire.
Source: London Gazette (22 Sep 1944)
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| Researchers | |
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| Researcher | Date | Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Nicoll | 02 Sep 2010 |
John Kerr was my maternal great uncle. I inherited his British empire Medal on the death of his brother James my grandfather and have recently donated his medal to the national mining museum at caphouse colliery in wakefield yorkshire |
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