Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Police Superintendent A. E. Murkin, Chelmsford Fire Brigade, who was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal for rescuing two horses from a fire in Chelmsford in 1922

Defence Medal; National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, bronze, 1 clasp, Five Years, with ‘Ten Years’ top brooch bar (7439 Albert E. Murkin); National Fire Brigades Association Long Service Medal, silver, 2 clasps, Twenty Years, Five Years (3625 Albert E. Murkin); R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, silver (Supt. A. E. Murkin) with integral top ‘For Humanity’ riband bar, generally extremely fine (4) £300-£400

Albert Edward Murkin was born in Shoeburyness, Essex in 1872 and having joined the Chelmsford Fire Brigade applied to join the National Fire Brigade Association in April 1907. He was awarded the Association’s bronze medal in 1923 and the silver in 1928. He was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal in Silver for the rescue of two horses in 1922. An account of the rescue is recorded in the May 1923 edition of The Animal World:
‘The Mayor of Chelmsford, Alderman Fred Spalding, J.P., recently presented the Society’s Silver Medal to Superintendent Murkin, of the Chelmsford Fire Brigade and the bronze medal to Mr Frederick Thomas Hills, for their brave action in rescuing horses from a fire. Superintendent Murkin went into a stable where he had been told there were two horses. The smoke and heat drove him back at first, but he went to the fire hose, saturated a handkerchief and put it round his mouth and went in again, “And,” said the Mayor, “I am very pleased to say he brought out both those horses.” In handing Superintendent Murkin the medal the Mayor said:- “It will be the means of reminding you of a noble deed and that you have the respect of your fellow townsmen, especially those who love animals.” In presenting the bronze medal to Mr Hills, the Mayor said that on the night of the fire he rushed to the stables and managed to get out three horses. One animal was down and they could not get it up. After having a drink of water Hills went back in again and succeeded in bringing out the horse’.

Murkin retired from the Chelmsford Fire Brigade with the rank of Superintendent, and died in Chelmsford on 13 December 1950.

Sold with photocopied Chelmsford Fire Brigade photographs and other copied research.