Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 234

A Royal Humane Society and 'Hulton Colliery Disaster' Group of Three to Colliery Fireman W. Potter
Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, successful (William Potter. May 11. 1899.), with integral top bronze riband buckle; Bolton and District Humane Society Medal, bronze, reverse embossed 'Hulton Colliery Disaster December 21st 1910'; Lancashire & Cheshire Coal Owners Rescue Station Medal, silver, reverse engraved 'William Potter', with 'Hulton 1911' suspension Bar and integral top riband bar, good very fine, together with a facsimile of the recipient's Royal Humane Society certificate, named to William Potter and dated 15.6.1899, and mounted in a glazed frame (3)

Royal Humane Society case no. 29,995: 'At 5:00pm on the 11th May 1899 Timothy Mulligan, aged 10, was playing with two other boys on the top of an old colliery brink shaft in Stanley Road, Walkden, which is connected with the Bridgewater Trustees' Underground Canal. The cover of the pit gave way and he fell for 46 feet where he hung on part of the old ladder, there being danger of choke damp and also from loose brickwork. William Potter was lowered down by a rope and at great risk rescued the lad, who was seriously injured.'

Mr. William Potter, employed as a Colliery Fireman at Walkden; subsequently involved in the rescue operations following the explosion at the Pretoria Pit at Hulton, 21.12.1910, when 344 miners were killed, in what was the second worst mining disaster ever to occur in England, and the third worst in Great Britain. Mrs. Miriam Tyldesley lost her husband, four sons, and two brothers in the disaster.

10 Edward Medals (Mines) in Bronze; 1 silver and 20 bronze Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medals; 1 silver and 25 bronze Royal Humane Society Medals; and 160 Bolton and District Humane Society Medals were awarded for the Hulton Colliery Disaster, 21.12.1910.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£600