Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Daily Herald’ Order of Industrial Heroism awarded to Joseph Sloss, a Liverpool Docker, for bravely assisting in extinguishing a fire that was at risk of causing a massive explosion in the City

‘Daily Herald’ Order of Industrial Heroism (To Joseph Sloss Sept. 30th 1923) with brooch bar, extremely fine £500-600

Joseph Sloss, a Docker, of Aigburth, Liverpool was presented with the ‘Daily Herald’ Order of Industrial Heroism at Liverpool Stadium on 30 September 1923.

Citation: ‘Four dockers were on duty on the bank of the Mersey when a steam crane collapsed. The boiler fires fell under some railway wagons laden with 120 tons of picric acid. Instead of rushing away to save themselves, Joseph Sloss, Michael Lavan, Joshua Bamber and Thomas Pinnington went right into the heart of the danger zone and extinguished the flames just in time. Had they not done so, the resulting explosion must have caused vast loss of life and property.’

The men were additionally awarded a small sum of money from the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board. A London Evening newspaper remarking:

‘The Mersey Dock and Harbour Board yesterday voted the sum of £17 to the four; as a recognition of saving the city, the docks, the shipping, and about a million people from being blown to smithereens!’

The medals to Sloss and his comrades were the first awards of the Order of Industrial Heroism made by The Daily Herald.

Ref. Gallantry, by Wilson & McEwen, p.49; The Order of Industrial Heroism, by Fevyer, Wilson & Cribb, p.2 & 164 and The Daily Herald, August 18, September 8, 9, 15, 20, 29, and October 1, 1923.