King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

		King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster
HOME Museum & Collections Sales Donations Events Contact Us REGIMENTAL HISTORY 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century First World War Second World War Actions & Movements Battle Honours FAMILY HISTORY Resources Further Reading PHOTO GALLERY ENQUIRIES FURTHER READING LINKS © Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.		The Great War Centenary 1917 - Exhibition Boomtown - From Front Line to White Lund Gallantry In the weeks after the explosions at White Lund the Ministry of Munitions and the Home Office attempted to pin down exactly what had happened and why. Eyewitness statements from workers and fire brigades indicated that individuals had acted with great courage and devotion to duty. It was well understood that they deserved public recognition. The authorities had the difficult task of assessing individual contributions and deciding on the type – and level – of award to give. The Home Office recognised that: ‘It will probably be found that others besides those already put forward by the Ministry are deserving of recognition. The conditions were so appalling during the first 24 to 36 hours that almost everyone who took part in the work of saving the magazines and fighting the fires would seem worthy of distinction.’ The announcement of the awards was made on 7th May 1918. It maintained the veil of secrecy stating only that they were ‘on account of their gallant conduct on the occasion of a fire which occurred at a Munitions Factory on the 1st October 1917.’ In the end four different types of award were made. Edward Medal (Silver) Only 25 silver Edward Medals were awarded between 1907 and 1949. Four of these were awarded to White Lund heroes. The Edward Medal of Police Sergeant Thomas Coppard in the collection of Lancaster City Museum Thomas Coppard, Police Sergeant, for his part in rescuing several people from a blazing factory where he was one of the police guards (medal in the collection of Lancaster City Museum) Abraham Graham, Railway Shunter, for bravery working with Thomas Kew Thomas Kew, Engine Driver, who drove ammunition trucks full of live shells out of the danger zone Thomas Tattersall, Works Fireman, for bravery Albert Graham, Thomas Coppard and Thomas Kew leaving Buckingham Palace after receiving their Edwards Medals on 7th May 1918. King’s Police Medal Fred Brocklehurst, Deputy Superintendent, Bolton Fire Brigade William Bramwell Hodgson, Superintendent, Morecambe Fire Brigade D’Arcy Benson Moffat, Superintendent, Vickers’ (Barrow) Fire Brigade Richard Newsham, Superintendent, Barrow Corporation Fire Brigade George Albert Oakes, Chief Inspector, Liverpool Fire Brigade Alonzo Savage, Superintendent, Preston Fire Brigade Daniel Devine Sloan, Second Officer, Manchester Fire Brigade William Andrew Wearing, Inspector, Lancaster Fire Brigade Medal of the Order of the British Empire Grace Calrow, Driver of the Factory Motor Car – ‘For courage and devotion to duty at a fire at a filling factory, when she was on duty continuously for forty-eight hours in circumstances of great danger.’ John Caton, Boiler Attendant – ‘Remained on duty the whole time during a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory in spite of great danger.’ Alexander Chamberlain, Shift Engineer in the Power House – ‘Displayed conspicuous courage and devotion to duty on the occasion of a very serious fire and explosion at a munition factory.’ Nurse Lily Cope, Factory Nursing Staff – ‘Behaved with great courage on the occasion of a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory, performing her duties quietly and without regard to personal safety.’ William Disberry, Pump Attendant – ‘Although 70 years of age, he remained at his fire pumps the whole night on the occasion of a severe explosion and fire at a national filling factory. The position was one of great danger throughout.’ Sergeant Richard Garth, Lancaster Fire Brigade – ‘Behaved with great gallantry on the occasion of a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory.’ William Heald, Feed Pump Attendant in the Power House – ‘Remained on duty the whole time during a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory, in spite of great danger.’ George Hutchinson, Boiler Fireman in the Power House – ‘Remained on duty the whole time during a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory, in spite of great danger.’ Jilbert Johnson, Works Police Constable – ‘Behaved with coolness and resource on the occasion of a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory.’ George Nutt, Boiler Attendant in the Power House – ‘Remained on duty the whole time during a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory, in spite of real danger.’ William Seery, Works Police Constable – ‘Displayed courage and resource on the occasion of a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory. He was thrown down and injured by an explosion.’ Nurse Maisie J Shepherd, Factory Nursing Staff – ‘Behaved with great courage on the occasion of a severe fire and explosion at a national filling factory, performing her duties quietly and without regard to personal safety.’ Charles Taylor, Foreman (medal in the collection of Lancaster City Museum) – ‘Displayed great coolness and courage in carrying out vitally important repairs on the occasion of a fire at a national filling factory whilst a large number of shells were exploding in the immediate neighbourhood.’ Richard Taylor, Fireman in the Factory Fire Brigade – ‘Displayed great courage and resource on the occasion of a severe explosion at a national filling factory’. Mary Agnes Wilkinson, Telephonist (medal in collection of Lancaster City Museum) – ‘Rendered invaluable service at a telephone exchange on the occasion of a fire and serious explosion at a munitions works close by, proceeding to her post through the danger zone and grave personal risk’. The Medal of the Order of the British Empire awards were published in three of the supplements to the London Gazette:- Mary Wilkinson – 4th January 1918; Grace Calrow and John Caton – 11th June 1918 and all other recipients – 3rd June 1918. Lord Shuttleworth, Lord Lieutenant of the county, distributed many awards for bravery and paid tribute to the valour and deeds of heroism of women and men. Mary Wilkinson received hers on 20th April 1918, many others had to wait until 3rd December 1918. Certificate to Nurse Lily Cope, with her medal. Gold watches Alfred Adage Ernest B Blackwell Albert Dudson George Duxbury Alfred Gill Fred Harrison Edwin Howarth William G Kirkup William Lee Edward Legge Howarth Nuttall Albert Shaw Herbert Arthur Tennent Leonard Thomson William Tuley James Vysick Thomas Walker Letters of Commendation Letter of appreciation from the Controller of Gun Ammunition Filling, Lieutenant Colonel L C P Milman, to Mr E Thompson, one member of the Works fire brigade. Accession Number: LM2001-61-2 Members of the White Lund Works Fire Brigade, including Mr Thompson who received the letter above. Accession Number: LM2001-61-1 © Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images. Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store.