The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

An Edward Medal for Industry in Bronze awarded to Ernest Thackeray, for the attempted rescue of a man at the Frodingham Steelworks, Scunthorpe, 10 August 1912

Edward Medal (Industry), G.V.R., 1st issue, with 2nd type reverse, bronze (Ernest Thackeray) edge bruising, very fine
£1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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E.M. London Gazette 8 October 1912.

‘A workman named Lightowler, employed by the Frodingham Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., was overcome by gas in a manhole at the company’s blast furnace at Scunthorpe [Lincolnshire]. After several ineffectual attempts had been made to rescue the unfortunate man, Thackeray, a fellow workman, volunteered, and, tying a handkerchief over his mouth, entered the manhole and succeeded in raising Lightowler sufficiently for other workmen outside to get him out, but it was too late to restore him. Thackeray himself was overcome by the gas and did not recover entire consciousness until the following morning.’

Ernest Thackeray was employed as a Blacksmith Striker by the Frodingham Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., living at 32 Carlton Street, Scunthorpe. Speaking of the rescue, the Coroner, said ‘the Victoria Cross had been awarded for much less meritorious actions than this’ and that Thackeray ‘was very brave and heroic’.

With copied extract from the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, 12 August 1912, which reported on the incident. With some other copied research.