| Gallantry |
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Gallantry | ||
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Awards for Gallantry
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Charles Smith |
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Edward Medal | |||
| Date: | 02 Jan 1940 | ||
| Colliery: | Askern Main Colliery, Yorkshire | ||
| Occupation: | |||
Whitehall, June 14, 1940.
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal in Silver to Gwyn Morgan, and the Edward Medal to Matthew Thompson and Charles Smith in recognition of their gallantry in the following circumstances:—
At 10 a.m. on the 3rd January, 1940, a fall of roof occurred at a coal face in Warren House Seam at Askern Main Colliery, Yorkshire, and a miner named Charles Liversidge was buried by the fall. He was extricated some three hours later, without having suffered serious injury, through the gallantry displayed, in conditions of the greatest risk, by a rescue party.
Morgan, the Agent of the Colliery, arrived a few minutes after the accident and took charge of the operations. With great difficulty a way was cleared under the fall, and it was found that Liversidge was completely buried, except for his head and shoulders, and that his arms were pinned by fallen rocks and by a steel bar. Morgan succeeded in removing a stone which was pinning one of his arms. Later, when one of the other men had failed, he succeeded in getting through to Liversidge and after thirty minutes work in the most cramped position was able to free him and to pass him through to the other rescuers. Throughout he displayed outstanding courage, resource, and leadership.
Smith and Thompson were both close at hand when the fall occurred and at once commenced rescue operations. They took a prominent part in the dangerous work of clearing a way under the fall, and both were able to remove some of the debris which had pinned Liversidge down. Thompson attempted to get through to effect the final release of Liversidge, but was driven back by a further fall.
The whole work of rescue was carried on in the most difficult and dangerous conditions, and slight falls occurred frequently. A further heavy fall occurred later in the day which completely closed the passage through which the rescue had been made.
Source: London Gazette (28 Jun 1940)
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| Researchers | |
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| Researcher | Date | Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susan Carr | 06 Apr 2012 |
Charles Smith was my Grandfather |
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