Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Scout Association Gallantry Cross group of three awarded to Mr. H. J. Duffy, for his gallantry in attempting to rescue a boy from drowning at Ebbw Vale, 8 July 1948

Boy Scouts Association Gallantry Cross, 3rd Class, gilt, 2nd issue (H. J. Duffy 8.7.48), with integral top riband bar; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with a Knights of St. Colomba Membership Medal, silver and enamel, the reverse named ‘H. Duffy G.K.Co. 260 1952’, with top riband bar; and the the recipient’s Scout Troop Leader cap badge, white metal with red plume, nearly extremely fine (5) £400-500

Herbert John Duffy, of the 5th Ebbw Vale Scout Group, was awarded the Scout Association Gilt Cross ‘in recognition of his gallant but unsuccessful attempt to rescue a boy from drowning in a pipe feeder pond at Ebbw Vale on 8th July 1948.’

Duffy was born in Marylebone, London, on 5 March 1915, before moving in the 1930s to Ebbw Vale, where he was employed in the local steel works. Although in a reserved occupation, he enlisted for service during the Second World War on 6 June 1940, and was posted to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps. He served with the Pioneer Corps in the U.K., before transferring to the Military Police on 21 November 1944, and was based for the rest of the War at No. 23 Prisoner of War transit camp at Le Marchant, Devizes, Wiltshire. He was discharged to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 7 April 1946, and, back in civilian life, rejoined his old steel works which, after various mergers, became the Guest Keen Company. He also resumed his pre-War interest in Scouting, and was appointed Troop Leader, 5th Ebbw Vale (All Saints) Troop.

‘On the morning of 8 July 1948, Duffy was preparing to go to work when he saw a number of children running towards a local pond, known as the ‘Pipe Pond’, which fed large amounts of water to the huge steel works. One of them shouted that Russell Chambers was drowning. Duffy jumped over the wall and climbed over the railings. Without hesitation, he kicked off his shoes and dived in fully clothed into the fairly deep pond, and repeatedly dived and swam under the water in search of the boy. After diving for about 10 minutes, he was joined by Trevor Greenhouse, his next door neighbour. Together they continued to search underwater for the boy, and after a further 5 minutes or so, Greenhouse came to the surface and gasped that he had felt something under his feet. Duffy then dived again, and found a body lying face downwards at the bottom of the pond. He managed to get hold of the body and tow it to the bank, where artificial respiration was applied but without success.
Recording a verdict of “Accidental Death”, the Coroner highly commended Duffy and Greenhouse for their efforts to recover the boy.’ (Article in the South Wales Argus, 10 July 1948 refers).

For his gallantry in attempting to rescue the boy, Duffy was awarded the Scout Association Gilt Cross. Four years late he was invested as a Knight of St. Colomba by the Guest Keen Company Charter Council. He died in Breconshire in 1976.

Sold together with a portrait photograph of the recipient, and various copied research.