Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare post-war gallantry B.E.M. group of five awarded to Assistant Engineer S. F. Lewis, South Eastern Electricity Board, late Royal Engineers

British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R., with gallantry emblem (Stanley Francis Lewis); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, the last four with their original card forwarding box addressed to ‘S. F. Lewis, 10 Skinner Street, Chatham, Kent’, and related Army Council slip, mounted as worn, extremely fine (5) £600-800

B.E.M. London Gazette 15 April 1958:

‘An employee of the South Eastern Electricity Board was working on a pole carrying a low tension overhead line across a farm, when his hand came into contact with the line and he suffered an electric shock. He was only semi-conscious and hanging by his safety belt, with his hand still held by the live metal. Without the slightest hesitation Mr. Lewis climbed the ladder against the pole and, after several vain attempts, eventually succeeded in freeing the man who was then brought safely down to the ground. In freeing him, however, Mr. Lewis had to use such strenuous efforts that he fell from the ladder, with the result that he fractured his right arm and left leg. Mr. Lewis acted with complete disregard of his own safety and his prompt and gallant action saved the man’s life.’