| Gallantry |
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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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John Ingham Gough |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 11 Sep 1929 | ||
| Colliery: | Bretby Colliery, South Derbyshire | ||
| Occupation: | Stallman | ||
Whitehall, June 5, 1930.
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal to Samuel Crofts and John Ingram Gough in recognition of their gallantry in the following circumstances:—
On the 11th September, 1929, two men, Redfern and Hardwick, were filling coal with other men at the Bretby Colliery, South Derbyshire, and were warned to leave their work as a shot was about to be fired near the place where they were working. As they were doing so about 10 tons of roof fell and buried Redfern and Hardwick. Deputy Crofts and others at once tried, at great personal risk, to release the entrapped men. Although further falls were taking place, Crofts remained at work for twenty minutes trying to rescue Redfern until a further large fall of about 100 tons occurred and killed Redfern. Crofts was knocked down and bruised by this fall but he returned to the work of rescue and only gave up the attempt when he had crawled under the fall and had satisfied himself that Redfern was dead.
While Crofts was trying to release Redfern, Gough and others were attempting to free Hardwick. At great personal risk they removed the fallen coal from Hardwick's head and shoulders and placed over his body some covering timber which undoubtedly saved his life when the second large fall occurred.
During these operations the rescuers were several times compelled to take shelter from the falling material, and it was only after two hours work of an exceedingly dangerous nature that they succeeded in rescuing Hardwick alive and in recovering the body of Redfern.
Although all the rescue party showed great bravery and disregard for their own safety Crofts and Gough were recognised by their comrades to have been the most prominent in risking their lives.
Source: London Gazette (17 Jun 1930)
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