Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving group of four awarded to Superintendent A. E. Murkin, Chelmsford Fire Brigade
Defence, unnamed; National Fire Brigades Association L.S. Medal, 1 clasp, Five Years, with ‘Ten Years’ brooch bar (7439 Albert E. Murkin), bronze; National Fire Brigades Association L.S. Medal, 2 clasps, Twenty Years, Five Years (3625 Albert E. Murkin), silver; R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, silver (Supt. A. E. Murkin), complete with ‘For Humanity’ brooch bar, medals in modern leatherette case, generally extremely fine (4) £380-420

Albert Edward Murkin was born in Shoeburyness, Essex in 1872. On 18 November 1896 he married Edith Wells at the parish church of All Saints, East Harringfield, Essex; his occupation at the time being given as a Farrier. At some stage he joined the Chelmsford Fire Brigade and applied to join the National Fire Brigade Association in April 1907. He was awarded the Association’s bronze medal in 1923 and the silver in 1928. He retired from the Chelmsford Fire Brigade with the rank of Superintendent, and died at his home at 48 Wood Street, Chelmsford, Essex, on 13 December 1950. He was awarded the R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal in Silver for the rescue of two horses in 1922. An account of the rescue is recorded in the May 1923 edition of The Animal World: ‘The Mayor of Chelmsford, Alderman Fred Spalding, J.P., recently presented the Society’s Silver Medal to Superintendent Murkin, of the Chelmsford Fire Brigade and the bronze medal to Mr Frederick Thomas Hills, for their brave action in rescuing horses from a fire. Superintendent Murkin went into a stable where he had been told there were two horses. The smoke and heat drove him back at first, but he went to the fire hose, saturated a handkerchief and put it round his mouth and went in again, “And,” said the Mayor, “I am very pleased to say he brought out both those horses.” In handing Superintendent Murkin the medal the Mayor said:- “It will be the means of reminding you of a noble deed and that you have the respect of your fellow townsmen, especially those who love animals.” In presenting the bronze medal to Mr Hills, the Mayor said that on the night of the fire he rushed to the stables and managed to get out three horses. One animal was down and they could not get it up. After having a drink of water Hills went back in again and succeeded in bringing out the horse’. Sold with photocopied Chelmsford Fire Brigade photographs and other copied research.