Heroes Honoured
In February 1925 at the Victoria Hall, Kidsgrove, in the presence of local dignitaries and inhabitants of the town and district, awards for bravery and gallant conduct on the occasion of the flooding of Harriseahead Colliery on March 10th last were made to Mr. Paling Baker and Mr. Harry Wilson. |
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At great personal risk, the two men rescued Edwin Booth of Mow Cop who was working in a distant part of the mine when the inrush of water occurred. It was necessary to wade breast deep through the rising water to effect a rescue.
The award consisted of a bronze medal and a certificate of the Order of Industrial Heroism (instituted by the "Daily Herald") to each of the two men and also a certificate to each of the two men from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, which was founded in September 1908.
Mr. Sam Finney, (Secretary of the North Stafford Miners Federation) presided. After briefly referring to the incident for which the awards were to be made, said they were very thankful that the lives of the men at Harriseahead colliery were not lost in the flood which took place, and their hearts were overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness to the two men whom they had met to honour that evening.
The certificates were worded as follows:
"Order of Industrial Heroism presented as a mark of respect and admiration to a brave man who, in a moment of peril, thought more of others than of himself."
Subsequently Mr. Sam Finney presented other certificates framed in oak, awarded to Messers Baker and Wilson by the trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, which read as follows. Presented by the trustees in recognition of heroic endeavours to save human life March 10th 1924. "He serves God best who most nobly serves humanity."
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London Gazette
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal to: -
Mr Pailing Baker, Colliery Manager, and Mr Harry Wilson, Miner in the following circumstances: -
On 10th March 1924 an inrush of water took place at the HARRISEAHEAD COLLIERY in Staffordshire. The majority of workmen had already left the mine, but it was found that one man named Booth was missing. |
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He had been working alone about 130 yards from the bottom of the shaft, and representations were made to Baker, the manager, that it was impossible to rescue him.
The bottom of the pit was three parts full of water and water was still rising. Baker, however, was resolute; he called for volunteers and Wilson was one of five men who responded and descended into the mine by a foot rail.
The rescue party reached a ventilation door, which they dared not open owing to the pressure of water behind it, they therefore prepared to retire. Baker, who had followed, insisted that Booth could not be left, but Wilson was the only man who volunteered to continue the work of rescue. Baker and Wilson managed to force the ventilation door and allow the water to escape gradually. They then waded to the place where Booth was working, reaching him after great difficulty and all three men were eventually drawn to the surface. Both Baker and Wilson ran a great risk of being trapped under the low roof in the mine. They could not tell to what height the water would rise and if it had reached the roof both the rescued and the rescuers would have lost their lives. Both Baker and Wilson displayed exceptional courage and resolution.
From: M Hebblethwaite
Sent: 30 April 2007
Subject: Harry Wilson GC
Hi
I am the author of the series of books on the GC as you may remember and am now on the last book with Harry's story in it.
I would be most grateful if I could use the photo on your website with credit to you - and do you have any idea if Harry Wilson had any family?
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info@gc-database.co.uk |
Many thanks
see
www.gc-database.co.uk for the books
Yours
Marion Hebblethwaite
Tel 01993 880223
