Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Transport and General Workers’ Union Gold Medal for Heroism pair awarded to Dover Harbour Board Mooring Hand H. W. R. Johnson, for his gallantry in saving the life of a three-year-old girl who had fallen 40 feet from a ferry into the harbour, 11 August 1977

Transport and General Workers’ Union Gold Medal for Heroism, gold (9ct, hallmarks for Birmingham 1977), the reverse inscribed ‘Presented to Bro. H. W. R. Johnson Branch 1/167 for Bravery on August 11 1977’, with integral top ‘For Heroism’ gold riband bar; France, Fifth Republic, Society Encouragement Public Palmes d’Argent, silvered and enamel, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (2) £240-£280

Hans Walter Ronald Johnson, a 30 year old Dover Harbour Board mooring hand, was awarded the Transport and General Workers’ Union Gold Medal for Heroism for his gallantry at Dover on 11 August 1977. The citation states:
‘On 11 August 1977 “Ron” Johnson was working near Eastern Dock, Dover. The French car ferry Compeigne was about to leave its berth when a three year old girl fell from the deck of the ferry into the water. Johnson dived into the water, where he saw bubbles rising, and brought the child to the surface. He swam with her to a ladder where a rope was lowered and both were pulled out of the sea. The risk was very great as stern ropes had been let go and the engines could have started any time. If then drawn into the screw, the turbulence in the confined dock could have caused serious injury.’

The recipient’s own account of the action, reported in the Dover Express, states:
‘I was on the quay up forward of the ferry and looking aft when I saw this kiddy spreadeagled flying 40 feet through the air from the ship towards the sea. I shouted that there was a kiddy in the water but no one seemed to believe me. I ran the length of the ferry along the quay shouting there was a child in the water. I looked into the sea and saw bubbles. I jumped into the sea feet first as I was trained in the Royal Navy. I found the child face downwards in the water. I pulled her over onto her back and dragged her to a ladder on the quay. The little girl was crying. But I was intent on getting out of the way of the ferry’s propellors. If they had started up we could both have been gonners.’

The captain of the Compiegne wrote a commendatory letter to the general Manager of the Dover Harbour Board, and the General Manager appended his own comments:
‘Your prompt and courageous action undoubtedly saved the life of this child, and on behalf of the Board’s management I would convey to you our sincere thanks and admiration for what you did.’

Dianne and Frank Comber, the parents of the rescued child, wrote to Johnson thus:
‘There is absolutely no way that we can thank you for what you did, saving our daughter Kate, when she fell from the ferry. We know that you endangered your own life, and the act that saved our daughter will never be forgotten.’

After she was taken from the sea the rescued child, Kate Comber, was treated by a doctor who was onboard the ferry. She was then rushed to Canterbury hospital where she made a full recovery. For his gallantry Johnson was awarded the extremely rare Transport and General Workers’ Union Gold Medal for Heroism, as well as the accompanying French decoration; the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum; and a gratuity from the ferry company. He was presented with his Gold Medal for Heroism, the so-called ‘Union’s V.C.’, by Moss Evans, the Union’s General Secretary, in what was reported to be only the third time in the Union’s history that the Gold Medal for Heroism had been presented.

Sold with the original bestowal card for the French Society Encouragement Public Palmes d’Argent; and various copied research, including photographic images of the recipient.