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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 538

(x) A rare Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal in Silver to Mr A. H. Stokes, H.M. Inspector of Mines, for gallantry in rescuing a miner who had been entombed for five days and nights in the Black Engine Mine at Eyam, Derbyshire in July 1879

Stokes was subsequently awarded an Albert Medal of the First Class for the Baddesley Colliery Disaster, 22 May 1882

Order of St. John Lifesaving Medal, 1st type (1874-88), silver (Arthur H. Stokes. 1879), with original black riband, the Badge of the Order, without embellishment, embroidered on the riband in white cotton, in its original Wyon, 287 Regent Street fitted case of issue, extremely fine and rare

Only 34 silver and 18 bronze 1st type Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medals were awarded between 1874 and 1888.

[A.M.] London Gazette 12 January 1883, Mr Arthur Henry Stokes, Inspector of Mines (in a joint citation with Mr Reuben Smallman, Mining Engineer; Charles Day, Collier; and Charles Chetwynd, Collier [all awarded the Albert Medal for Land First Class], and Mr Samuel Spruce, Mining Engineer; Mr Frederick Samuel Marsh, Certified Colliery Manager; Mr Thomas Harry Mottram, Certified Colliery Manager; William Morris, Collier; William Pickering, Collier; and Joseph Chetwynd, Collier [all awarded the Albert Medal for Land Second Class]):

'For conspicuous gallantry displayed on the occasion of the Fire and Explosion at the Baddesley Colliery in May last.

On 22nd May, 1882, a fire occurred in the underground workings at the Baddesley Colliery, Warwickshire, and Mr Stokes was summoned by telegram in the night to render help. He arrived at the Colliery to find that only an hour of two before there had been an explosion and many men burnt. It was subsequently found that out of a rescue party of about 32 men, 23 were either killed or died shortly after. Mr Stokes, with five others, descended the mine and succeeded in rescuing the owner and two others who were so badly burnt that they died shortly afterwards.'

Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal, Arthur Stokes, Assistant Inspector of Mines, Greenhill, Derby (in a joint citation with Charles Matlby, Manager, Eyam Mining Company; John Hancock, Mine Manager for Lord Houghton, Troeswell by Sheffield; Thomas Davis, Skilled Miner, Bulls Heads, Foolow, Eyam; and John Davis, Skilled Miner, Shepherds Park, Eyam [all awarded the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal in Bronze]):

'For Rescuing one Dennis Bagshawe who had been imprisoned for five days and nights, without food, in the Black Engine Mine, Eyam, via Sheffield, on 8th July 1879, by a sudden fall of shale. The rescuers being in great danger themselves of being either buried also or killed from choke damp.'

Extract from the Chapter General Report, 1880:

'These four men [Messrs Maltby, Hancock, T. Davis, and J. Davis] had been most conspicuous in their bravery in rescuing one of their comrades, Dennis Bagshawe, who had been for five days and nights imprisoned in the Black Engine Lead Mine, near Follow, on July 22nd 1879. A Medal was also awarded to Mr. Arthur H. Stokes, Assistant Inspector of Mines, who also exposed his life to the same danger, and through whose ability and presence of mind the work of the rescue was greatly accelerated. The accident occurred on the 22nd of July last at the Black Engine Mine, which is 140 yards deep, with two drifts extending from the bottom of the shaft, 120 yards and 70 or 80 yards respectively. Dennis Bagshawe was working in the lowest and most distant part of the mine, when a portion of the roof fell, and his escape rendered almost hopeless. The ill tidings no sooner reached the bank that volunteers rushed eagerly to the rescue from all quarters, and worked in relays for many hours under the most dangerous conditions. The attention of Mr Bagshaw, the part owner of the mine, was not called to the accident until the day after it had taken place. But on hearing of the accident he at once telegraphed Mr A. H. Stokes, the Government Inspector of Mines for that district, and proceeding immediately to the scene of the disaster, at once perceived that the system hitherto adopted was faulty, and could not be successfully carried out. Heroic exertions had failed for want of proper organisation. At three o'clock on Friday Mr Stokes entered the mine and devised a system of ventilation which cleared the mine of choke damp, enabling the men to recommence their labours.

On Friday the engine broke down, but the damage having been repaired the work went on unremittingly, under the personal supervision of Mr Stokes, until eleven o'clock on Sunday forenoon when the rescue was affected. Dennis Bagshawe, the imprisoned miner, had been for five days and nights without food or light, overcome with the choke damp, and struggling between life and death. For five hours the signals between the imprisoned man and the rescuers had not been audible, when early on Sunday a fresh rap was heard. The rescuers increased their exertions, the barrier suddenly gave way, and they were close upon their comrade. A hole being opened, Mr Stokes passed some milk to the imprisoned man, and at length Dennis Bagshawe was got out alive. The bravery of the men who accomplished this gallant deed should not be forgotten. Their conduct was a lesson of self-devotion and courage prompted by a sense of duty, and without any expectation of reward. No occurrence that had happened for many years in Derbyshire could equal in moral effect the noble conduct of these brave miners.'

Arthur Henry Stokes was born at Wednesbury, Staffordshire in March 1844. Educated at Little Hay School, Shenstone, near Lichfield, he showed an early interest in mathematics and engineering. After serving as a bound apprentice to a firm of Mining Engineers in Staffordshire in 1858-63, he was appointed H.M. Inspector of Mines and Assistant-Inspector in the Midland District in 1874. He was twice sent abroad to the Faroe Islands to report on their potential for coal-mining, and he undertook extensive surveys of coal-mines in Scania, Sweden.

On 24 July 1879, Stokes was called to an accident at the Black Engine Mine, Eyam, Derbyshire, in which the lead-miner, Dennis Bagshawe, was entombed in a collapsed tunnel. Stokes took charge of the rescue operation, and for five days and nights he never left the mine. He devised a ventilation system to prevent the rescuers from succumbing to foul air. He kept the entombed man alive by feeding him through a small hole in the debris, which was finally cleared at noon on the fifth day. He was presented with his Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal at the Cutlers Hall, Sheffield, on 21 January 1880.

The 1881 census records him living at 77 Lenham Parade, Greenhill, Derby. In 1887 he was promoted to Inspector in Charge of the Midland District, while in 1889 he became a Council Member of the Institute of Mining Engineers. Stokes retired in May 1909, and died at Derby on 10 October 1910. He was buried at the Old Cemetery, Uttoxeter Road, Derby.

Following the award of the Albert Medal First Class to A.H. Stokes for his gallantry at the Baddesley Colliery Disaster it was stated that no other living person held the same two highest awards for saving life, namely the Albert Medal in Gold, and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem Life Saving Medal in Silver.

Sold with an extensive file of copied research, including photographs of the recipient.




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