Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Albert Medal in Gold for Land group of three awarded to Corporal H. F. Ewington, Army Ordnance Corps, formerly a waiter employed by Spiers and Pond Restaurant, London, for gallantry in saving the life of a man who had fallen on the live rail of the Metropolitan Railway tracks at Aldersgate Street [now Barbican] Station in London, 1 July 1913, enduring several electric shocks as he pulled him to safety and held him between the tracks as trains approached from both directions

Albert Medal, 1st Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, gold and enamel, the reverse officially engraved ‘Presented by His Majesty to Herbert Frederick Ewington for Gallantry in saving life at the Aldersgate Street Railway Station on the 1st. July 1913.’, in case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (034470 Cpl. H. F. Ewington. A.O.C.) central cipher slightly loose on AM, good very fine (3) £8000-12000

A.M. London Gazette 19 December 1913:

‘A fitter in the employment of the Metropolitan Railway, while crossing the permanent way at Aldersgate Street Station, slipped and fell across a live electric rail. Whilst a porter was fetching the insulating rubber gloves- without which it was very dangerous to touch anyone who is in contact with a live rail- a train was seen entering the station on the same line. At that moment Ewington jumped on to the line and managed to pull the man’s leg clear of the rail, receiving several shocks in doing so, and succeeded in getting the injured man into safety between the two sets of rails before the train pulled up a few feet away. The danger was increased by the fact that another train was approaching in the opposite direction. But for Ewington’s exceptional bravery, there is little doubt that the fitter, who was unable to release himself, and who leg was badly burned, would have lost his life.’

Herbert Frederick Ewington was born in Kensington in 1877, and in civilian life was employed as a waiter by Spiers and Pond Restaurant, London, whilst also playing a leading role on the Committee of the Hackney Workhouse. He was presented with his Albert Medal in Gold by H.M. King George V at Buckingham Palace on 16 December 1913, and subsequently served during the Great War in the Army Ordnance Corps. He died at Rochford in 1950.

Sold together with a Home Office letter the the recipient informing him of the award of the Albert Medal, dated 18 November 1913, together with another letter regarding his investiture; and a copy of the Albert Medal Consolidating Warrant of 1905; various newspaper cuttings; portrait photograph of the recipient; a small gold medallion, the reverse engraved ‘Presented to H. F. Ewington as a mark of esteem from a few friends of Collins Music Hall, May 24th. 1912’; a silver cigarette case, the back engraved ‘Presented to H. F. Ewington by the Staff of Collins Music Hall May 24th 1912’, this somewhat dented; and a related Order of Buffaloes Medallion.

24 Albert Medals in Gold for Land were awarded to civilians between 1877 and 1971.