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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 228

A Good Royal Humane Society Medal to W.D. Woolley, For His Actions in Leading a Rescue Party Following a Gas Explosion at the Markham Colliery, 18.5.1912- For Their Gallantry He and His Rescue Party All Received Edward Medals (Mines) in Bronze
Royal Humane Society, small silver medal, successful (William D. Woolley. 18th. May 1912), with integral top silver riband buckle, edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine, in Elkington, London, fitted case of issue

E.M. London Gazette 24.9.1912 William Downing Woolley, Collier (in a joint citation with Arthur Thomas Winborn, James Joseph Leach, and Llewellyn Howells [all awarded the Edward Medal (Mines) in Bronze])
'On the 18th of May last an explosion of firedamp occurred at one of the pits which was in process of sinking at the Markham Colliery, Tredegar, and resulted in the death of five men. At the time of the explosion two men were down the shaft, which was then full of afterdamp. A rescue party was organised, consisting of the men above-mentioned, who descended the shaft, and after an hour's work reached the pump lodge room at a depth of 350 yards from the surface, where they found a man named Snashall, who was badly burned. After some difficulty they managed to get Snashall into the bucket, in which he was safely raised to the surface. All the rescuers were equipped with breathing apparatus, but Mr. Woolley had not previously worn it.'

Royal Humane Society case no. 39195: 'At 1:40pm on the 18th May, 1912, an explosion occurred at the Markham Colliery, Hollybush, Monmouthshire, caused by an ignition of gas at a depth of about 350 yards. Four men standing at the top of the pit were blown considerable distances and killed, the shaft being much damaged, the air-pipes being wrenched from their fastenings and hanging in very dangerous positions. Only one man was down the shaft at the time, a sinker named Snashall, and in order to save him a rescue party, consisting of W.D. Woolley, A.T. Winborn, J.J. Leach, and L. Howells was formed, and these men descended the shaft, each man wearing the Draeger breathing apparatus, and succeeded in bringing Snashall to the surface alive. Considerable risk was incurred, not only from the after-damp with which the shaft filled, but from the dangerous position of the debris and loose hanging material through which they had to pass.'

Provenance: Tom May Collection, 2012

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