Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Royal Humane Society Medal in Silver awarded to Martin Rowley for a rescue at Long Lane Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire on 1 July 1916

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Martin Rowley, 1st July 1916) mounted for wear on 2nd type ribbon, in Elkington, London case of issue, silver dipped, suspension repaired and non-swivelling, edge bruising, about very fine, a scarce award to a miner £400-500

Ex Sotheby’s 6/7 November 1985.

‘At 1 a.m. on 1 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 quarter 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. (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 42,628).

Martin Rowley was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Silver for his bravery; Regan, Eden and Kelly were each awarded the medal in Bronze.