A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards

Explosives Loading Company Distinguished Service Medal, 39mm., silver, engraved, obverse inscribed, ‘Pro Patria April 2nd 1916’; reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to E. J. Moat by Explosives Loading Company for Distinguished Service’, hallmarks for Birmingham 1916, straight bar suspension, very fine £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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E. J. Moat was awarded a silver medal by the Explosive Loading Company for his services following the explosion at the Company’s factory at Uplees Marshes, Faversham, Kent, on 2 April 1916.

At about midday of 2nd April 1916, sparks from a boiler house set alight some empty sacks by the side of a shed containing T.N.T. and ammonium nitrate. Despite the best efforts of the work force, the fire took hold of the shed and the area was ordered to be cleared. Soon afterwards, at about 1.20 p.m., the building blew up and the resulting explosion triggered further explosions from the nitro-glycerine washing plant nearby. The main explosion left a crater some 40 yards across and 20 feet deep, destroying adjacent buildings and causing fires throughout the factory complex. Some 20 and 40 minutes after the main explosion two further explosions occured and throughout the factory there was the continual danger of smaller but equally deadly detonations from munitions and mines. Into this lethal environment, teams of factory workers, fire brigade and army personnel attempted to tackle the blaze and rescue the injured, many of whom had suffered terrible burns.