Auction Catalogue

16 December 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

Lot

№ 331

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16 December 2003

Hammer Price:
£620

Carnegie Hero Fund Medallion, bronze, 90mm. (Alfred Fred Davies, Birmingham, 12th December 1908), in case of issue, extremely fine £450-550

Sold with two fragmentary newspaper cuttings. One entitled, ‘Birmingham Hero - Grant from the Carnegie Trustees’ reads:

‘The trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund have granted an allowance of 50s. a month to Mrs A. F. Davies, of 192 Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, the widow of the heroic man who in December last lost his life in attempting to stop a runaway horse in Heath Green Road.

The circumstances of the case were peculiarly sad. A horse attached to a milk float belonging to Mr Walter Dawson, of Coralie Street, took fright and bolted. The lad in charge of the animal was unable to control it and jumped out of the float. Thus entirely unchecked, the horse continued its mad career. As it was nearing the corner of Dudley Road, Davies rushed out of a house and made a courageous attempt to stop it. Running alongside the horse for some distance he endeavoured to take hold of the bridle. Unfortunately he failed, and the horse swerving, Davies was knocked down, and the wheels of the float passed over his shoulders. He was removed to the Workhouse Infirmary, where he died three hours later.

These facts were brought to the notice of the trustees of the Carnegie Fund by the Editor of the “Mail” who pointed out that Davies had a wife and a young family entirely dependent upon him, and that these were left without means of support. After some further correspondence the trustees also communicated with the City Coroner, and the result has been the award mentioned above. This is the first grant under Mr Carnegie’s endowment received in Birmingham.’

The second newspaper cutting deals with the inquest report.