Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Leading Fireman H. G. Hayward, Kent Fire Brigade, who was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Bronze Medal for attempting to rescue a cat stranded in a disused chalk pit in 1948

Defence Medal; Fire Brigade Long Service Medal, E.II.R. (Ldg. Fireman Harold G. Hayward); R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, bronze (Sec, Ldr. H. Hayward 1946) with top ‘For Humanity’ riband bar; together with the recipient’s London Fire Brigade; Kent Fire Brigade; and N.F.S. cap badges, good very fine and better (3) £80-£120

L. Hayward, of Kent Fire Brigade, was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Bronze Medal for his part in attempting to rescue a cat stranded in a disused chalk pit:
‘Northfleet N.F.S. went into action following a report that a cat was stranded down a disused chalk pit 200 feet deep at Swanscombe. They had nearly reached the animal when it went just out of reach, under cover of darkness. So the rescue was called off until the next day. When a fireman again went down on the rope the cat was nowhere to be seen, and it is presumed that it had made its own way out.’ (Gravesend & Dartford Reporter, 3 April 1948 refers).

2 Bronze medals were awarded for this action, to Leading Fireman L Hayward, of Northfleet, and later Dartford; and Fireman J. Restall, of Gravesend.

Sold with copied newspaper cuttings.