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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Arthur Devere Thomas
	Edward Medal in Silver
	Date:	14 Jan 1931
	Colliery:	Kings Cross Station
	Occupation:	Flagman

 

Whitehall, March 24, 1931.

His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal in Silver to Arthur Devere Thomas in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances:—

On the 14th January, 1931, Ernest Percival, who was engaged in dismantling a wooden staging fixed across the track of the Metropolitan Railway Station at Kings Cross, slipped and fell, from a height of about 20 feet, to the permanent way of the down Inner Circle line. He was rendered unconscious and lay face downwards across one running rail with his head close to the negative rail of the electrified system.

Arthur Devere Thomas, who was acting as flagman for the protection of the workmen, saw Percival fall and at the same time heard a down train approaching the station round the curve. Realising that a signal could not be seen by the driver in time for him to stop the train, Thomas immediately jumped down from the platform to the up line and, running across two positive and two negative rails carrying 600 volts, snatched Percival up from almost under the wheels of the approaching train, and held him, still unconscious, in a small recess in the wall whilst the train passed within a few inches of them. By reason of his employment, Thomas must have been fully aware of the risks he faced and he displayed conspicuous gallantry in successfully effecting the rescue of Percival.

Source: London Gazette (31 Mar 1931)

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	marion hebblethwaite	23 Jun 2014	i am the author of the series of books on the George Cross - One Step Further and would like to be in touch with anyone who has information on Arthur's family

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