| Gallantry |
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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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Richard Edward Finch |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 29 Jan 1919 | ||
| Colliery: | Park Lane Colliery, Wigan | ||
| Occupation: | Manager | ||
Whitehall, 11th June, 1919.
His Majesty the King has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to ...
Also to Richard Edward Finch, Manager of the Park Lane Colliery, Wigan.
On the 29th January, 1919, at 4.30 p.m., two men named Shaw and Rammer were replacing some timber near a self-acting haulage rope. The roof crashed down over their heads, burying both men. Nothing was done to rescue them until Finch arrived at 5 p.m. He shouted, and Shaw answered in a feeble voice. Finch crept over the fallen bars and was able to touch him. By dint of effort he was able to scrape the dirt from Shaw's mouth and saved him from suffocation. He called for volunteers to assist in digging out the men and three men came to his assistance. Stones and dirt continued to fall from the roof, and on several evasions Finch ordered his assistants back; though during the whole time he himself continued his exertions. Shaw was rescued at 5.30 p.m. Finch then endeavoured to rescue Rimmer, but he was found to be dead. His body was recovered at 6.30 p.m. Finch underwent great danger, and took risks no one else was willing to take.
Source: London Gazette (13 Jun 1919)
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