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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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Paling Baker |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 10 Mar 1924 | ||
| Colliery: | Harriseahead Colliery, Staffordshire | ||
| Occupation: | Manager | ||
Whitehall, August 15, 1924.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal to Mr. Pailing Baker, Colliery Manager, and Mr. Harry Wilson, road corporal, in the following circumstances:—
On 10th March, 1924, an inrush of water took place at the Harriseahead Colliery in Staffordshire. The majority of the workmen had already left the mine, but it was found that one man named Booth was missing. He had been working alone about 130 yards from the bottom of the shaft, and representations were made to Baker, the Manager, that it was impossible to rescue him. The bottom of the pit was three parts full of water and the water was still rising.
Baker, however, was resolute: he called for volunteers and Wilson was one of five men who responded and descended into the mine by a footrail. The rescue party reached a ventilation door which they dared not open owing to the pressure of water behind it and they therefore prepared to retire. Baker, who had followed, insisted that Booth could not be left, but Wilson was the only man who volunteered to continue the work of rescue. Baker and Wilson managed to force the ventilation door and allow the water to escape gradually. They then waded to the place where Booth was working, reaching him after great difficulty, and all three men were eventually drawn to the surface.
Both Baker and Wilson ran a very great risk of being trapped under the low roof in the mine. They could not tell to what height the water would rise and if it had reached the roof both the rescued and rescuers would have lost their lives. Both Baker and Wilson displayed exceptional courage and resolution.
Whitehall, 1st September, 1924.
EDWARD MEDAL.
In the notice dated the 15th August, 1924, which appeared in the Gazette No. 32967 of the 22nd August, notifying the award of the Edward Medal to Pailing Baker and Harry Wilson, for "Pailing Baker" read "Paling Baker."
Source: London Gazette (22 Aug 1924)
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