HAMSTEAD COLLIERY DISASTER 1908, Gold Medal presented to A.W. Grazebrook for conspicuous bravery in attempting to rescue the entombed miners, hallmarked Birmingham 15 carat gold, complete with top suspender, pin lacking on this, otherwise very fine and rare

Mr. A.W. Grazebrook was Director of the Hamstead Colliery, near Birmingham, at the time of the disastrous fire on 4th March, 1908, whereby twenty-four miners were entombed. In spite of the gallant efforts made by the Hamstead men, augmented by volunteers from the neighbouringTankersley (Barnsley) and Alrofts (Normanron) mine rescue brigades, to rescue their comrades, all twenty-four of the trapped miners perished. Medals were struck by the Hamstead Colliery Relief Fund and presented by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham four months after the disaster. Twenty-four medals were awarded in gold, although it is believed that those awarded to the nine miners (as opposed to the mining officials) were actually silver-gilt. A further sixteen medals were awarded in silver. Six of the recipients were awarded the Edward Medal (Mines), including a posthumous award to John Welsby from the Alrofts Mine Rescue Brigade.An original newspaper cutting mentioning Mr.Grazebrook, circa 1948, accompanies the medal. For further details see O.M.R.S. 'Miscellany ofHonours'.