Auction Catalogue

19–21 June 2013

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 850

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19 June 2013

Hammer Price:
£400

A fine British Empire Medal awarded to Conductor John Connor, Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. (Edinburgh) for bravery in saving life from a gas filled building

British Empire Medal, (Civil) E.II.R. (John Connor), in Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £400-450

B.E.M. London Gazette 8.10.1957. John Connor, Conductor, Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. (Edinburgh) Douglas Maitland Tocher, Sergeant, Edinburgh City Police Force (Edinburgh).

‘A man heard what appeared to be sounds of someone moaning coming from a small stone building behind the wall at the side of a road. The building was blocked up apart from a small jagged hole measuring 22 inches across by 15 inches high in one of the end walls, approximately 4 feet from the rising ground beneath, on the outside of the building. The man saw two hands gripping the edge on the inside of the building and detected very strong gas. He tried to grasp the hands and saw that a boy was trapped inside and partially overcome by fumes. He tried to pull the boy clear but without success and, as the effects of the fumes were becoming more apparent, he ran to a nearby garage and obtained the assistance of Mr. Connor, who vaulted the wall separating the building from the footpath and crawled through the hole. He reached ground level on the other side, about 6 feet below the hole, and at once detected the strong fumes. Groping about in the darkness he found the body of a boy lying on the floor. The boy was semi-conscious and, picking him up, Connor pushed him head first through the opening from where he was pulled to safety. By this time Mr Connor was beginning to feel the effects of the fumes and experienced a choking sensation. It was not without difficulty that he managed to pull himself up to the hole and regain the outside. At this stage it was not believed that there was any other person trapped inside but Sergeant Tocher and a Constable went to the building and the Sergeant examined the interior through the hole. He heard a grunting sound and thought that he saw the form of a boy lying in the darkness below. He discarded his tunic and, after tying a handkerchief over his nose and mouth was forced through the opening. He found the body of the boy lying unconscious near the hole. He picked him up and hoisted him out head first though the opening to the other police officers. Sergeant Tocher then searched the building and found five fire extinguishers scattered on the floor, three of which had been discharged. The extinguishers were passed outside by Sergeant Tocher, who, after ensuring that there was no one else inside, endeavoured to get through the hole. By this time the effects of the fumes had begun to tell on him and he experienced great difficulty in raising himself the six feet from the floor level. A large stone was pushed through the hole for him to stand on. With this aid he managed to reach the lower edge of the opening. His arms were seized and he was pulled to the outside where he collapsed. Fully aware of the heavy concentration of fumes, Mr. Connor and Sergeant Tocher entered the confines of the building, faced with a drop of six feet on the inside and uncertain as to how they would find a way out. Both men displayed considerable determination and courage in effecting the rescue of the boys.’