Auction Catalogue

2 July 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Download Images

Lot

№ 707

.

2 July 2003

Hammer Price:
£950

Binney Memorial Medal, bronze, 48mm. (Frederick Charles Spencer Long, 1964), in John Pinches, London case of issue, extremely fine £400-500

Mr Frederick Long, aged 56 years, of Wolsely Gardens, Chiswick, a G.P.O. official at Remnant Street Post Office in Lincoln Inn Fields, was awarded the Binney Medal for his brave actions in November 1964. A masked gunman vaulted over the counter of the post office and threatened a woman cashier with a pistol and began rifling the tills. He then fired a shot which alerted Mr Long who came out of his office. He placed himself between the gunman and the staff and then advanced to disarm him. The gunman fired and Mr Long was hit in the chest. The gunman then made his getaway on a motor-cycle, shooting at a G.P.O. van driver who tried to ram him and wounding a passerby in the process. Mr Long was taken to hospital where the bullet was removed. He was awarded the Binney Medal (one of three for the year 1964 - see lot 706) and was presented with a £100 cheque and wallet by the Postmaster-General - Mr Anthony Wedgewood Benn, M.P.

Sold with three cards bearing newspaper cuttings regarding the incident; five photographs of the recipient at the various presentation ceremonies and a Reception for Binney Memorial Medallists booklet, listing many of the recipients.