Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce Albert Medal awarded to Pumpman William Simons for the Abercarn Colliery Disaster in September 1878

Albert Medal, 2nd class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land (Presented in the name of Her Majesty to William Simons, Pumpman, for saving life at the Abercarn Colliery, September 1878) the reverse with maker’s cartouche Phillips, Cockspur St, and numbered ‘No. 38’, the red enamel centre professionally re-enamelled, good very fine £2500-3000

See Colour Plate IV

A.M. London Gazette 19 August 1879 (Group citation for two 1st Class and seven 2nd Class awards):

‘On the 11th September, 1878, an explosion of firedamp occurred in the Abercarn Colliery, in the county of Monmouth, whereby 260 persons perished, and on which occasion the greatest possible gallantry was exhibited in saving about 90 lives. The force of the explosion was terrific, doing great damage to the roadways and to the bottom of the shaft, and setting the coal and timber on fire in several places. Into this state of confusion and apparent danger to life these men, without hesitation, descended, and, although they discovered that fires were raging in the mine, and that consequently the chances of another explosion were considerable, they remained at their gallant and humane work of rescue, not re-ascending the shaft until they had satisfied themselves that no one was left alive below.’