Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Edward Medal for Mines in Bronze awarded to Dr. E. A. Dando, for his gallantry in saving life at the Russell Hall Colliery Fire, Dudley, 17 April 1910 - when he rushed to render medical assistance attired in his pyjamas

Edward Medal (Mines), E.VII.R., bronze (Edwin Arthur Dando), in case of issue; together with a Masonic Medal (?) obverse: a shield bearing a cypher (obverse centre loose), reverse inscribed, ‘No. 25 Earl Dudley Encampment Kt. Arthur Dando installed Oct. 30th 1908’, silver-gilt and enamel, with hunting horn emblem on ribbon and top bar inscribed, ‘Rege Lege et Grege’, in case, generally extremely fine (2) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War.

View
Collection

E.M. 2nd Class London Gazette 29 November 1910. ‘... for courage shown on the occasion of the underground fire which occurred at the Russell Colliery, near Dudley, on the 17th April, 1910, and in connection with which the Edward Medal was awarded on the 23rd July, 1910, to Arthur Cartwright, Isaiah Walker, Samuel Slater and Anthony Willetts.

It has since been brought to His Majesty’s notice that Dr. Dando, who was summoned to the mine when the fire broke out, went down the pit and bravely assisted in the rescue work for several hours. He was at last overcome by the poisonous gases, and was brought to the surface unconscious, and he has not yet completely recovered from the effects of his courageous action.’

'On Sunday morning a fire, which resulted in the loss of two lives, broke out in No.5 Pit, Windmill End, known as the Russell Hall Colliery, Dudley. The victims were John Davies and Tom Robinson. It appears that four men were working in the mine on Saturday night, namely Sam Slater, Isaiah Walker, Sam Brookes and Joe Hughes. They came up between twelve and one o'clock for their supper, and when they got back down to the bottom of the shaft they noticed something was wrong. There was a smell of fire in the main roadway. They reported this, and immediately went down again. It was then found that the timber in the mine was in flames, and they worked on the fire until four o'clock on the Sunday morning, when the two unfortunate men, Robinson and Davies, relieved them. The manager (Mr. Alderson), and the under-manager (Mr. Cartwright) were also in the workings, together with a miner named Willets. Brookes and Slater went home, but Slater and Walker remained in case they should be wanted. About five o'clock they became anxious and went down again and rendered further assistance. Willets and Mr. Cartwright meanwhile returned to the bank for tools to make a sand dam, the fire having got out of hand, and the emitted fumes being too overpowering. Willets was the first to return, and upon going into the workings found Mr. Alderson lying on the ground in a state of semi-consciousness. With great difficulty he managed to drag him to the pit bottom, and he was quickly conveyed to the bank. It was then recognised that the position of the other two men must be serious, for they were further in the workings than Mr. Alderson. Willets, although suffering somewhat from the effects of the fumes himself, pluckily returned again to the pit in company with Mr. Cartwright and several others. The fumes were so deadly that the rescue party could not endure them for many minutes together, and had to be drawn to the top with great speed. Mr. Cartwright found the bodies of the two men lying in the roadway, and tried to drag them away, but he had to beat a hasty retreat for his own safety. At six o'clock Dr. Dando, who resides nearby, was sent for, and he pluckily descended the shaft as soon as he arrived. The rescue party then attempted to put in a sand dam, which they accomplished with great difficulty. The two men, Robinson and Davies, were found dead at about 9:30am.

Many deeds of splendid heroism are reported. Mr. Alderson, the manager, and Mr. Cartwright, his deputy, were overcome on several occasions; in fact, at one time as many as six of the rescue party were lying unconscious in the engine house. Dr. Dando remained down the pit for more than three hours, rendering what assistance he could to the relief parties. Eventually he was overcome by the fumes, and had to be conveyed to the top in a tub. Artificial respiration was resorted to in each case, and when the men came to themselves they reeled as though they were drunk. Most of the men were sent home to bed, and Dr. Dando speaks very highly of the heroism displayed. When called, Dr. Dando lost no time in getting to the pit, hurrying from his house with his dressing gown, wasting no time in getting dressed. The men speak of his actions with the greatest admiration. "I had to restrain a number of the men". said the doctor in an interview, "from going back in their endeavour to fetch their comrades. It would have been certain death to them. I was proud of these men. I have never seen anything to equal it. They were nobly led by Mr. Alderson, and I cannot say how it is that he is alive today. I am sure that greater deeds of heroism have never before been seen upon a battlefield. When the men were making the dam to keep back the foul air they could not hold the shovel for more than a minute. They then had to go back to the bottom of the shaft to get air, and then rush back again. They worked splendidly. Of course, as the dam was constructed the danger from the foul air became less, and they could proceed with less difficulty."' (Dudley Herald. 23.4,1.91 0 refers)

Dr Edwin Arthur Dando served as a medical practitioner in Dudley from 1900, also working as a Surgeon at the Midland Counties Mutual Benefit Society. He was awarded the Edward Medal in Bronze for his gallantry at the Russell Hall Colliery Fire in April 1910. In the early hours of 17 April 1910, in his haste to render medical assistance Dr Dando rushed to the colliery attired in his pyjamas. Though of indifferent health himself, he went down the pit and bravely assisted in the rescue operations until poisonous fumes forced him to the surface in an unconscious state. For his bravery Dr Dando was awarded the Edward Medal in Bronze. In 1911 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.

Latterly living at Dixon’s Green, Dudley, Dr Dando died on 12 February 1923, aged about 50 years.