Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Daily Herald’ Order of Industrial Heroism awarded to Councillor James Fletcher, for saving the life of a child in danger of being run over by a bus, at Ryhope, Co. Durham, 18 May 1930

‘Daily Herald’ Order of Industrial Heroism (To James Fletcher, May 18th 1930) very fine £500-700

‘Councillor Fletcher, an Inspector of the Eastern Omnibus Company, saw the child step into the path of another bus, and although the bus on which he was travelling was going at a fast speed, he jumped off and ran back along the road and picked up the child just in time. So close did the bus pass, that one of the wheels ripped off the heel of his boot, and Fletcher and the child were almost crushed by a motor car passing in the opposite direction.’ (ref. The Order of Industrial Heroism, By Fevyer, Wilson & Cribb and General and Municipal Workers Journal, July 1930).

James Fletcher was born in Sunderland, Co. Durham, on 4 July 1892. On leaving school he was employed as a Coal Miner but later gave this up due to a back injury. He was later employed as a Conductor with the Eastern Ombibus Company and subsequently promoted to Inspector. James Fletcher was elected a Town Councillor in February 1926 and was later the Chairman of the Sunderland Labour Party.

It was as an Inspector for a bus company that he performed the act of bravery that saved the life of a child whilst placing his own in danger. The injury he sustained to his heel during the incident affected him for the rest of his life. James Fletcher died in 1969.

With a photocopied photograph of the recipient and copied details of the man and the incident supplied by his family. See also Daily Herald, 17 May 1930 and 19 May 1930.