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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 236

A Good 'Hulton Colliery Disaster' Royal Humane Society Medal to Dr. W.H. Leigh, Medical Officer of Health, For His Gallantry During the Terrible Hulton Colliery Disaster, 21.12.1910, in Which 344 Miners Lost Their Lives, The Third Worst Mining Disaster Ever to Have Occurred in Great Britain
Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, successful (William H. Leigh. M.R.C.S. 21st. Dec. 1910.), with integral top bronze riband buckle, minor edge bruise, otherwise extremely fine, in Elkington, London, case of issue, together with a photographic image of the recipient

Royal Humane Society case no. 37,996: 'At 7:50am on the 21st December 1910, at the Pretoria Pit, over Hulton, near Bolton, a disastrous explosion took place in the mine which is some 435 yards deep. After damp succeeded the explosion rendering it very dangerous to enter the pit, there being also the danger of further explosion by ignition of the liberated gas. Mr. Alfred Tonge, the Manager, aged 42, and 17 other men acquainted with the mine descended in the hope of being able to save some of those who were below. From the moment they reached the pit bottom they were in an atmosphere of noxious gases liable to ignite at any moment, rendering the work not only difficult, but exceedingly dangerous. For several hours they continued their exertions, no effort being spared by any of the men in their self-imposed task of saving or attempting to save their less fortunate fellow workmen. By their exertions 4 lives were saved, 344 others being lost, and a further 500 saved. Doctors William H. Leigh, aged 34, and John C. Russell, aged 32, went down and attended to 3 men who had been overcome by the gas. Abraham Stott and William Turton went down to extinguish fire and both were overcome, Stott trying to save Turton before being overcome. Turton did not recover. Five firemen subsequently went down to extinguish the fire.'

Dr. William Hamer Leigh, was born in 1880; appointed Medical Officer of Health for Weathoughton and Atherton; for his gallantry during the Hulton Colliery Disaster he also received a bronze Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal, and the Bolton and District Humane Society Medal; he died October 1949.

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.

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