Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Martin Rowley. 1st July 1916) in its Elkington & Co Ltd case of issue, suspension detached above the claw, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £140-180

R.H.S. Case No. 42,628. ‘At 1 a.m. on 1st July 1916, four men named Gallagher, Lynch, McLoughlan and Ashurst were at work repairing the roof in the four-foot seam at the Long-Lane Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield, when a fall took place, burying all four men. A rescue party, consisting of Martin Rowley, Patrick Regan, Thomas Eden and Thomas Kelly, at once went to their assistance, it being found that the fall, which was estimated at about 14 tons of stone and earth, had completely buried McLoughlan and partly buried Lynch, with iron girders on top of both. Ashurst and Gallagher were easily liberated, but it was only after one and a quarters’ hours arduous work that Lynch was reached and got out, and a quarter of an hour later when McLoughlan was also freed, but he was then dead. Owing to the confined space in which the rescuers had to work it was necessary for one man to lead, this post being taken by Rowley. There was a constant fear of another fall, which might have taken place at any moment, so that great risk was incurred.’

Silver Medal and Vellum to Martin Rowley; Bronze Medals to Regan, Eden and Kelly.

Martin Rowley was himself killed by a fall at the Long-Lane Colliery, many years later, on 5 July 1941. Sold with full details.