LIFE SAVING AWARDS 566
An Edward Medal for Mines in Bronze awarded to Collier Alwyn Lewis for Gallantry at the Cilely Colliery, Tonyrefail, Glamorganshire, on 1 June 1930
EDWARDMEDAL (Mines), G.V.R., 1st issue, bronze (Alwyn Lewis) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine
£2000-2500 E.M. London Gazette 31 October 1930.
‘On Sunday the 1st June, 1930, about 12 noon Herbert Clarke, surveyor, and Thomas William Rees, fireman, went down the Cilely Colliery, Tonyrefail, Glamorganshire, for the purpose of making a survey. As they had not returned by 5 p.m. the banksman descended the pit to look for them and after searching for some time found that the men had been entombed by a fall in the workings about 16 feet in length and about 12 feet in height.
The alarm was given by the banksman and at about 6.30 p.m. rescue operations were begun by Henry Davies, overman, Thomas Harding and William R. Evans, firemen, and Alwyn Lewis, collier. They tried to remove the debris, but were unable to continue as the timbers supporting the lip of the cavity began to collapse. Temporary supports were erected and a second attempt at clearing the fall was made under the supervision of the Under-manager. This resulted in a second fall in which Henry Davies and William Evans narrowly escaped injury, and the attempt had to be abandoned.
It was then decided to drive a small tunnel, by means of piles, through the fall and at 9.45 p.m. the rescuers were joined by Wyndham Evans, overman, and Evan Rosser, fireman. At midnight Henry Davies and William Evans, who were exhausted, were persuaded to retire. Harding, who was a night official, also had to leave to perform his normal duties of inspection and the work was carried on by Lewis, Wyndham Evans and Rosser under the supervision of the Under-manager. Water was conveyed to the entombed men by means of a 1-inch pipe and at 2.30 a.m. Rosser was able to pass some warm stimulants through the tunnel. From this time the place became very uneasy and the pressure on the supports in the tunnel was so terrific that a collapse appeared imminent. At 3.30 a.m. the tunnel was completed and Rosser got through to the entombed men. Wyndham Evans got hold of Clarke from Rosser and a human chain was formed and Clarke was drawn out through the tunnel. Rees was then rescued in the same way, Rosser being the last to come through the tunnel. He had scarcely got clear when the tunnel closed in and became completely impassable.
The time occupied by the rescue was about 9 hours. Of the rescue party, Lewis was there throughout and Rosser and Wyndham Evans for the last 5¾ hours. All the men who took part in the rescue behaved with conspicuous bravery and incurred considerable risks; but the men exposed to the greatest danger were those who worked in the hastily-constructed lightly-timbered tunnel through loose material and under constantly increasing pressure. This risk increased progressively as the tunnel reached completion and Rosser, Lewis and Wyndham Evans (who worked in relays) were in constant danger, of being buried by the total collapse of the passage.’
For their gallantry Evan Rosser, Alwyn Lewis and Wyndham Evans were each awarded the Edward Medal in Bronze. With typed citation, newspaper cutting and details re the Edward Medal, all in ‘Central Chancery’ envelope.
567
A rare George VI Edward Medal for Mines in Bronze awarded to Ben Littler Jones for Gallantry at the Llysfaen Quarry, Caernarvonshire, 21 May 1938
EDWARD MEDAL (Mines),
G.VI.R., 1st issue, bronze (Ben Littler Jones, 21st May, 1938) nearly very fine
£3000-3500 E.M. London Gazette 9 September 1938.
‘Blasting was about to take place at the Llysfaen Quarry, Caernarvonshire, on the morning of 21st May. All the men with the exception of three - Williams, Jones and Roberts, whose duty it was to light the fuses - had been withdrawn from the danger zone.
Williams had lighted one fuse, Jones two, and Roberts three, when Roberts trod on a stone which tipped up and trapped his foot so that he could not move. The shots were timed to go off in 80 seconds, and Roberts was in imminent danger of being killed.
Williams and Jones tried to release Roberts, and failing to do so, Williams shouted to the others to pull out the fuses and promptly pulled out four himself. Jones pulled out one and Roberts the other.
In doing so they ran considerable risk: had any one of the detonators exploded, it would certainly have had a serious or even fatal results. The promptitude and courage of Williams and Jones undoubtedly saved the life of Roberts at grave risk to their own safety.’
For their gallantry Ben Littler Jones and William Williams were each awarded the Edward Medal in Bronze. With a newspaper cutting with a picture of ‘Aircraftsman I B. L. Jones of Llysfaen, Colwyn Bay, leaving the Palace after being decorated with the Edward Medal for Bravery.’
Only 23 of this type of Edward Medal issued.
www.dnw.co.uk
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