Awards to Civilians from the Collection of John Tamplin

A very rare Edward VII Edward Medal (Industry) awarded to Foreman Frank Smith for attempting to rescue a man who had been rendered unconscious while sinking a well at East Markham in Nottinghamshire

Edward Medal (Industry), E.VII.R., Second Class, bronze (Frank Smith) in its original fitted presentation case, sometime lightly gilded, otherwise good very fine and very rare £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to Civilians from the Collection of John Tamplin.

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E.M. 2nd Class London Gazette 14 February 1911:

‘On the 30th September, 1910, John Wapplington and another labourer, named Albert Templeman, were engaged in sinking a well at East Markham, Nottinghamshire, and had fired a shot in order to blast the rock at the bottom. After an interval, during which they tested the air with alighted lamp and found no gas, Templeman went down the well and struck the rock with a crowbar. Immediately afterwards he cried out that he was feeling dizzy, and asked Wapplington to lower a ladder and rope. He did not wait to fasten a rope around himself, but tried to mount the ladder, and fell back when he was half way up. Wapplington, calling for help, went down to Templeman’s assistance; but found that he could not lift him, and came up in a dazed condition. After a rest of a quarter of an hour, he bravely made another attempt; but called out that he could not attach the rope to Templeman, as he was overcome by the gas. He managed, however, to reach the top before becoming unconscious. Frank Smith, foreman, then came to the spot with other men, and, fastening the rope round his body, went down the well, and succeeded in getting the rope round Templeman, by which means he was hauled up. Smith reached the surface in a state of collapse, though he soon recovered. Templeman was found to be dead.’

Only 2 silver and 5 bronze Edward Medals (Industry) were awarded during the reign of Edward VII. Sold with full details.