Orders, Decorations and Medals

Order of Industrial Heroism, Awarded by the Daily Herald (To Frederick J. Fox, 21 Jan. 1937) extremely fine £400-500

On Friday, November 13th 1936, at about 12 noon, a plucky rescue was effected at the mouth of the River Medina, Isle of Wight, when a plater’s apprentice named W. F. Cook, aged 15, employed by Messrs. J. Samuel White & Co., was saved from drowning. It appears that the lad was stepping from one of the firm’s motor launches on to a dummy on the East Cowes side of the river when he fell into the water. Owing to his pockets being full of bolts he was in imminent danger of drowning in the choppy sea. Twice the lad came up feet first. Seeing the boy’s plight, Mr F. J. Fox, a plater’s helper, pluckily dived to his rescue. He got hold of Cook, who by this time was in an unconscious condition, and the lad was brought safely ashore. He revived after artificial respiration had been applied.

Frederick Fox was a member of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, and was presented with his medal by Mr C. Dukes, General Secretary of that Union, at the Alexandra Hall, Cowes, on 21st January 1937.