Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Edward Medal Second Class for Mines awarded to Mr. Archer Cartwright, Under Manager of the Russell Colliery, for his gallantry during the Dudley Colliery Fire on 17 April 1910

Edward Medal (Mines), E.VII.R., 2nd Class, bronze (Archer Cartwright) mounted with the original investiture hook, good very fine £1,500-£2,000

E.M. London Gazette 5 August 1910: Mr. Archer Cartwright, Under Manager, Russell Colliery [in a joint citation with Isaiah Walker, Miner, Russell Colliery; Samuel Slater, Miner, Russell Colliery; and Anthony Willets, Miner, Russell Colliery]

‘On the 17th April 1910, an underground fire, in which the lives of two workmen were lost, occurred at the Russell Colliery, near Dudley, Staffordshire- a district where the workings are peculiarly liable to spontaneous combustion. The fire broke out at a point about 114 yards from the bottom of the downcast shaft, and when it was discovered by smoke issuing from the upcast shaft, the Manager of the mine, accompanied by several workmen, proceeded to the spot to try and put the fire out. After working for a considerable time in the heat and smoke, two of the party, Archer Cartwright (Under Manager) and Anthony Willets, were sent to the surface for tools, leaving the Manager and two workmen to proceed with the work of fighting the fire. In their absence, both the Manager, who, feeling the effects of the smoke, had walked back a short distance, and the two workmen were overcome by the noxious atmosphere. Willets, on his return, found the Manager unconscious and dragging him, in spite of his very heavy weight, to the bottom of the shaft, brought him safely to the surface. Willets and Cartwright and a third man named Samuel Slater then descended the shaft in order to try and rescue the two workmen who had succumbed. They found them and attempted to carry them back; but Willets, who was already exhausted by his previous efforts, gave signs of giving way, and Cartwright and Slater also feeling ill-effects, they were all compelled to return and leave the two unfortunate workmen. On their way back, Willets fell down unconscious, and Cartwright and Slater, being unable to help him, made their way with difficulty to the surface. They were able, however, to tell Isaiah Walker of Willets’ condition, and he volunteered to try and bring Willets out. Descending the mine alone, and crawling on his hands and knees under the smoke, Walker managed to reach Willets, whom he found lying on his face about 27 yards from the shaft. Seizing him by the shoulders, Walker managed to drag Willets to the shaft bottom, and then took him up in the cage. Walker again went down the shaft in the hope of reaching the two workmen left in the mine; but this time he was unsuccessful, and was forced to come back.’

The Dudley Colliery Fire
‘On Sunday morning a fire, which resulted in the loss of two lives, broke out in No. 5 Pit, Windmill End, known as the Russell Hall Colliery, Dudley. The victims were John Davies and Tom Robinson. It appears that four men were working in the mine on Saturday night, namely Sam Slater, Isaiah Walker, Sam Brookes, and Joe Hughes. They came up between twelve and one o’clock for their supper, and when they got back down to the bottom of the shaft they noticed something was wrong. There was a smell of fire in the main roadway. They reported this, and immediately went down again. It was then found that the timber in the mine was in flames, and they worked on the fire until four o´clock on the Sunday morning, when the two unfortunate men, Robinson and Davies, relieved them. The manager (Mr. Alderson), and the under-manager (Mr. Cartwright) were also in the workings, together with a miner named Willets. Brookes and Slater went home, but Slater and Walker remained in case they should be wanted. About five o’clock they became anxious and went down again and rendered further assistance. Willets and Mr. Cartwright meanwhile returned to the bank for tools to make a sand dam, the fire having got out of hand, and the emitted fumes being too overpowering. Willets was the first to return, and upon going into the workings found Mr. Alderson lying on the ground in a state of semi-consciousness. With great difficulty he managed to drag him to the pit bottom, and he was quickly conveyed to the bank. It was then recognised that the position of the other two men must be serious, for they were further in the workings than Mr. Alderson. Willets, although suffering somewhat from the effects of the fumes himself, pluckily returned again to the pit in company with Mr. Cartwright and several others. The fumes were so deadly that the rescue party could not endure them for many minutes together, and had to be drawn to the top with great speed. Mr. Cartwright found the bodies of the two men lying in the roadway, and tried to drag them away, but he had to beat a hasty retreat for his own safety. At six o’clock Dr. Dando, who resides nearby, was sent for, and he pluckily descended the shaft as soon as he arrived. The rescue party then attempted to put in a sand dam, which they accomplished with great difficulty. The two men, Robinson and Davies, were found dead at about 9:30 a.m. Many deeds of splendid heroism are reported. Mr. Alderson, the manager, and Mr. Cartwright, his deputy, were overcome on several occasions; in fact, at one time as many as six of the rescue party were lying unconscious in the engine house. Dr. Dando remained down the pit for more than three hours, rendering what assistance he could to the relief parties. Eventually he was overcome by the fumes, and had to be conveyed to the top in a tub. Artificial respiration was resorted to in each case, and when the men came to themselves they reeled as though they were drunk. Most of the men were sent home to bed, and Dr. Dando speaks very highly of the heroism displayed. When called, Dr. Dando lost no time in getting to the pit, hurrying from his house with his dressing gown, wasting no time in getting dressed. The men speak of his actions with the greatest admiration. “I had to restrain a number of the men”, said the doctor in an interview, “from going back in their endeavour to fetch their comrades. It would have been certain death to them. I was proud of these men. I have never seen anything to equal it. They were nobly led by Mr. Alderson, and I cannot say how it is that he is alive today. I am sure that greater deeds of heroism have never before been seen upon a battlefield. When the men were making the dam to keep back the foul air they could not hold the shovel for more than a minute. They then had to go back to the bottom of the shaft to get air, and then rush back again. They worked splendidly. Of course, as the dam was constructed the danger from the foul air became less, and they could proceed with less difficulty.”’ (Dudley Herald, 23 April 1910 refers).

Archer Cartwright was born in Lye, Worcestershire, in September 1882, and was presented with his Edward Medal by H.M. King George V at Buckingham Palace on 2 August 1910.

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