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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 229

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal, successful (Martin Rowley. 1st. July 1916.), lacking integral top silver riband buckle, suspension repaired and non-swivelling, edge bruising and scratch to obverse field, therefore nearly very fine, in Elkington, London, fitted case of issue

Royal Humane Society case no. 42,628: 'At 1:00am on the 1st July 1916, four men named Gallagher, Lynch, McLoughlan, and Ashurst were at work repairing the roof in the four-foot seam at the Long-Lane Colliery, Ashton-in-Makerfield, when a fall took place, burying all four men. A rescue party, consisting of Martin Rowley, Patrick Regan, Thomas Eden, and Thomas Kelly, at once went to their assistance, it being found that the fall, which was estimated at about 14 tons of stone and earth, had completely buried McLoughlan and partly buried Lynch, with iron girders on top of both. Ashurst and Gallagher were easily liberated, but it was only after one and a quarter hours' arduous work that Lynch was reached and got out, and a quarter of an hour later when McLoughlan was also freed, but he was then dead. Owing to the confined space in which the rescuers had to work it was necessary for one man to lead, this post being taken by Rowley. There was a constant fear of another fall, which might have taken place at any moment, so that great risk was incurred.'

Mr. Martin Rowley was born in 1885 and was employed at the time of his gallantry as a contractor at Poplar Bank, Ashton. He was killed, 5.7.1941, at the same Long-Lane Colliery, following a fall of stone from the roof whilst setting up a prop, and is buried at All Saints R.C. Church, Golborne.

One Royal Humane Society Silver Medal (to Rowley), and three Royal Humane Society Bronze Medals were awarded for this action.

Provenance: Sotheby, November 1985

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Estimate
£400 to £500