Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare gallantry B.E.M. awarded to Garry Cooper, for a courageous attempt to save three children from a fire in Poole in June 1965 - he sustained serious burns in the process

British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R., with gallantry emblem (Garry Cooper), nearly extremely fine £500-600

B.E.M. London Gazette 24 May 1966. The joint citation states:

‘Fire broke out in a cafe consisting of three floors. Mr. Cooper, who was passing in the street, saw that the building was on fire and on hearing that there were three children inside, entered the building in an attempt to rescue them. He heard a scream from upstairs and rushed up to the second floor. In spite of the heat and smoke, which prevented him from seeing, he reached the children’s room which was also well ablaze. Mr. Cooper was severely burnt by this time, and he threw himself out of the bedroom window on to the roof. Mr. McCarthy was sleeping in one of the bedrooms on the first floor and he was awakened when the alarm was raised. He made an immediate attempt to ascend the now fiercely burning stairway to try and rescue the children. The intense heat forced him to return. He then put on his jacket and tried again but once more was forced back. He next fetched a blanket from his bed, soaked it with water, draped it over himself, and succeeded in reaching the top of the stairway. But although he searched for the children amongst the flames and smoke he was unable to find them. Cooper and McCarthy were rescued by the Fire Brigade and taken to hospital suffering from burns. Both men made a valiant attempt to save the lives of the children.’

Garry Cooper, a steel erector employed by West Bolden Company of Durham, was visiting Poole at the time of the above described incident at the Old Town Cafe in the High Street on 12 June 1965. He returned there that October to receive a £200 cheque from the Mayor, ‘the earnings he lost during treatment and convalescence after serious burns’; sold with several photocopied newspaper reports.