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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	William Kemp
	Edward Medal, Second Class
	Date:	26 Apr 1911
	Colliery:	East Pool & Agar United Mines, Camborne
	Occupation:

 

Whitehall, March 12, 1912.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the First Class to Albert Opie and the Edward Medal of the Second Class to William Kemp under the following circumstances:—

On April 26th, 1911, three men employed at the East Pool and Agar United Mines at Camborne were descending to their work and were accidentally lowered into an accumulation of water, which was known to exist but had greatly increased during the previous night without the knowledge of the management. Two of the men, who were on the outside of the skip, jumped off; but the man who was inside was drowned. One of the two survivors caught hold of a ladder and managed to climb up the shaft to safety, while the other held on tO an air pipe, but was afraid to jump across the intervening space to the ladder. On the alarm being given, Opie immediately came down the shaft to try and get this man out; but failed to reach him. Accompanied by Kemp, he then descended another shaft and travelled along cross cut to the shaft where the man was hanging. This cross cut was nearly filled with water, which was constantly rising, and at one point actually touched the roof. Opie, at the risk of his life, plunged under the water, came up on the other side, and made his way to the shaft where the man was hanging. He succeeded in bringing him out by dragging him through the water in the cross cut. Kemp did not go under water, but stayed in a position of considerable danger to maintain a light while the man was being brought out.

These Medals were presented personally by the King at Buckingham Palace, on the 6th of March, 1912.

Source: London Gazette (15 Mar 1912)

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