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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 254

Maypole Colliery Disaster Medal, gold (15 carat, Hallmarks for Birmingham 1908) and enamel, the reverse engraved 'Mr. Robert Picton from the Moss Hall Coal Coy: Ltd: for able and kindly services rendered in exploring at the Maypole Colliery Disaster 18th. August 1908', with gold ring suspension; together with the recipient's Lancashire & Cheshire Coal Owners Rescue Station Medal, gilt, reverse engraved 'Robert Picton', with 'Hulton 1911' suspension Bar and integral top riband bar, minor edge bruise to latter, nearly extremely fine, together with a photographic image of the recipient (2)

'At about 5:10pm on the 18th August, 1908, a devastating explosion occurred at the Maypole Colliery, Abram, about 4 miles from Wigan, which accounted for the loss of 76 lives. Robert Picton, who was the assistant Under Manager on the day shift, and his brother William, the Under Manager of the Maypole Pit, were both involved in the rescue operations.'

Mr. Robert Picton, born Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, 1875; employed as an assistant Under-Manager, Maypole Pit; 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, although not awarded the Bolton and District Humane Society Medal.

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Estimate
£400 to £500