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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 262

The 1968 G.M. awarded to Guard A. G. Lewis-Ashley, who heroically fought off armed robbers in their shameful attempt to steal thousands of pounds while he conducted one of his routine collections in his job as Custodian

He, along with his colleague Reeves, fought the men by all means possible, with Lewis-Ashley taking a bullet wound to his thigh; undeterred, the men apprehended the villains, saving nearly all the money in the process

George Medal, E.II.R. (Alan Gerald Lewis-Ashley), officially engraved naming, in Royal Mint case of issue, sold together with corresponding miniature, good very fine

G.M. London Gazette 14 May 1968.

'Alan Gerald Lewis-Ashley, Guard, Security Express Ltd. (Waltham Abbey, Essex).
John Reeves, Guard, Security Express Ltd. (Beckenham, Kent).

Mr. Lewis-Ashley and Mr. Reeves were members of the crew of a security van sent to collect valuables from a council estate. The two men entered the building and collected two bags containing cheques, postal orders and cash which were attached securely to a body chain worn by Lewis-Ashley. As they left the building and walked towards the waiting van, Lewis-Ashley heard a shout, a shot was fired and a man rushed between himself and the van. Lewis-Ashley dashed forward and managed to reach the van and throw one bag safely into it. The man then shot Lewis-Ashley in the thigh and he fell into the van. The armed man snatched the remaining bag which was dangling on the body chain and made good his escape. Meanwhile Reeves was engaged in a fierce struggle with two other members of a gang of five and succeeded in knocking one of them to the ground.

A shot was fired at Reeves which missed its target: he had also been sprayed with tear gas. Lewis-Ashley, now safely in the van, saw the man attacking Reeves and although wounded in the thigh, went to his aid. Picking up a riot stick, he followed Reeves, who by now, was chasing the robbers into an adjoining street, and on turning the corner saw a man running towards the getaway car. However a member of the public drove his own car along the pavement and succeeded in hitting the man with his front bumper. Reeves then caught up with the man and struggled to hold him down until Lewis-Ashley struck the man with the riot stick and knocked him unconscious.'

Alan Gerald Lewis-Ashley was born on the 30 August 1931, lived at Waltham Abbey, Essex and worked as a Custodian, where he was responsible for the collection and delivery of currency. In this role, he opened himself up to personal attack on a daily basis, and indeed on the 16 May 1967, his life turned upside-down when he was shot in the leg when assaulted by armed robbers. But undeterred, along with his colleague Reeves, he apprehended the villains, gallantly knocking one unconscious, and retrieving the stolen money.

In his witness statement to 'K' Division, Metropolitan Police, Lewis-Ashley takes up the story:

'On Tuesday, 16th May, 1967, I left our depot with a van. Our crew were, Driver George Phillpot and Guard John Reeves. During the morning we made thirteen 'pick ups' and were carrying some cash. These were in Chingford, Leytonstone, Woodford and Stratford areas.

At about 12.10p.m. I left an assignment at the Grove, K.15, and went to the Newham Housing Department, Rent Office at 383, High Street, Stratford, E.15. We arrived at 12.15p.m. approximately.

When we arrived I noticed there were no vehicles parked outside and I saw nothing suspicious. As a result we were able to park right outside the doors...

Behind the counter the door was locked behind us. Mr. Turner, a cashier, handed to me from the safe, one company 'half-sack' containing approximately £10,000 and one company 'gusset bag' containing approximately £3,000... On the half sack there are two rings. I wear a body chain and I slid this through one ring on the half-sack. Then I attached the clip of the chain to the seal of the guest bag, so that both bags were secure.

Then we left. The guard Reeves went out into the pavement carrying a three foot 'Riot Stick'... Reeves signalled to me that all was clear. I went out to the street... I walked across the pavement and when I was about a yard from our van I heard someone shout 'Go'.

By this time the van's nearside door was open. I heard a shot fired. I heard footsteps and a man rushed between me and the van coming from my right. I rushed at the door of the van and got onto the step, in the doorway. I saw on my left out of the corner of my eye, the muzzle of a revolver. I just saw the end of a barrel and the foresight. It was pointing at my head.

Instinctively I put my left hand up and knocked the muzzle of the gun down with the edge of my left hand. My movements were made difficult by the bags in front of me and the fact that I was stooping forward in the doorway and my rear end was sticking out of the door. The man holding the gun moved directly behind me. I felt his breath on the back of my neck. I felt something catch against the back of my jacket. I heard a gunshot and felt a piercing pain in the rear of my right thigh.

My legs then buckled outwards. I saw a hand come between my legs from behind. I felt a pull on the place of bodychain which was dangling in front of me. At this time out driver, Phillpot, who was inside the van, leant over my left shoulder and fired a 'Scarepest' gun, issued by the company, which issues a 'knockout' gas.

The next thing I knew I was inside the van and the door was closed behind me. I shouted to Phillpot "This is a raid" and he shouted 'Johnny'. I looked through the windscreen of the vehicle and saw Reeves strike a man in the face with his fist. The man staggered.

I went to get out of the vehicle and found the money was all free from my chain. Having got out I saw Reeves with a number of men round him. The man that he had punched was zig-zagging across the pavement like a drunk. The men around Reeves were striking him. As I went towards them I saw out "Riot stick" laying near the kerb. There was a cosh shaped like a dumb-bell lying near the wall of the building. I picked up the 'riot stick'. By the time I had picked it up, the men and Reeves were disappearing round the corner of Bridge Road.

I ran to the corner. I saw the man run down the side road to a vehicle. It was a car. As I came round the corner another car passed between Reeves and myself. This car cut in front of the man that Reeves had hit, who was still in front of me. As I ran down Bridge Road the man who had been hit turned in the road and Reeves caught him round the neck. As I got to Reeves he went to the ground with the man, having his arms round his neck.

I said "You bastard" and the man said "Please don't hit me, I've done nothing wrong". I hit him on the hand with my stick, then on the thigh and across his legs, breaking the stick. He went unconscious.

Then Reeves stood up and I stood over him with the stick pointing at him. He began to come round and made to put his hand inside his jacket. I threatened him and he took it out again.'

The police and fire department then arrived on the scene, bagged the revolver used to shoot Lewis-Ashley before he was then promptly taken to hospital. Most of the money was intact thanks to the men's bravery on that fateful day and indeed the armed robbers were brought to justice.

'On 16th June 1967, Quartermaine appeared at West Ham Magistrates' Court and committed to the Central Criminal Court where on 14 July, 1967 he pleaded guilty to a charge of armed robbery and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment' (statement included within the Lot refers). For their bravery, both guards were awarded the Captain Ralph D. Binney Memorial Medal, before then being awarded their respective George Medals the following year.

Lewis-Ashley survived the attack and later died in November 1986 at the age of 55 years; sold with copied research.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2800