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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	William Thomas Jones
	British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
	Date:	1954
	Colliery:	Eastern United Colliery
	Occupation:	Undermanager

 

Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division):—

William Thomas Jones, Colliery Undermanager, Eastern United Colliery, National Coal Board. (Cinderford, Gloucestershire.)

A deputy was ascending a rise in a seam in the Eastern United Colliery when a fall of fireclay occurred above him. He managed to take refuge in a shallow recess in the side and escaped injury, but found himself trapped between two blockages formed by the fallen fireclay.

The alarm was raised immediately and Jones was quickly on the scene and took charge. He made an attempt to reach the trapped man from above but found that the fall completely blocked progress. He returned to the bottom and climbed up the debris. About 15 yards up he found the fallen fireclay forming a complete blockage held by displaced props which had become loosely wedged across the face of the recess. In spite of the obvious risk involved, he decided to attempt to release this blockage from below and by means of chains and wire ropes was able to dislodge some of the props. This brought about a run of debris and cleared the blockage so that the deputy could descend to safety.

While the blockage was being cleared the props might have given way at any time and had they done so while the undermanager was beneath them he would have been most fortunate to escape with his life. He must have realised full well the grave risk he was running in his gallant efforts to save the deputy.

Source: London Gazette (28 Sep 1954)

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