Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co. Ltd. Medal for Loyalty 1901, 38mm, silver, the obverse featuring St. George and the dragon, the reverse inscribed ‘Presented to Dvr. A. Boyles for Loyalty’, with top silver brooch bar, extremely fine £60-£80

Archie Boyles was born in Bristol on 12 March 1878 and entered the service of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company in 1899, and was employed for them for a period of 47 years, retiring on 30 September 1946. He died in Horfield, Bristol, on 26 December 1956.

In 1901 there was a major dispute between the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company and its employees, caused by the change over from horse-drawn to electric trams, which culminated in the majority of the Company’s employees walking out of their jobs over the August Bank Holiday week-end. Those workers who went on strike were dismissed, but 302 of the 1,200 employees refused to strike and continued working, even though they suffered much abuse from the strikers. In recognition of their loyalty they were presented with the above specially commissioned medals at a dinner held at Colston Hall on 20 December 1901.

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