Orders, Decorations and Medals

Carnegie Hero Fund Medallion, bronze, 90 mm (Reginald E. Fidler, Long Ashton, Somerset, 29th September 1953) contained in its case of issue, together with original letter from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, and a privately awarded 9 carat gold medal, the reverse inscribed (Reginald E. Fidler, for Bravery 29.9.53) extremely fine (2) £350-450

Reginald Fidler was awarded the George Medal, the Carnegie Bronze Medallion, and a sum of £25, for his gallantry in apprehending an armed man. The George Medal was announced in the London Gazette 23 February 1954:

‘Reginald Ernest Fidler, Blacksmith, Long Ashton, Bristol. A girl and her brother were walking along an unlighted thoroughfare when a man stepped out and threatened them with a shotgun. The girl turned and ran down the lane and almost immediately a shot rang out and her brother received injuries to his face and neck.

The man with the gun then ran down the lane after the girl. Mr. Fidler, who had heard the shot, met the girl and pushed her inside his house and closed the door. Having done this he was confronted by the attacker who was in the act of reloading a sawn off single barrel 12 bore shotgun. The reloaded gun was then pointed at Fidler, whereupon he immediately closed with the gunman. The gun was discharged almost simultaneously and so close did the charge go to Fidler that the shoulder of his overcoat was shot away.

After a struggle, Fidler overpowered the man and disarmed him, then held him on the ground until the arrival of the Police. Fidler’s courageous intervention undertaken at grave risk to himself, undoubtedly saved the girl from death or serious injury.’

Sold with some further details, including a contemporary news cutting and a copy news cutting with an illustration of the presentation of the Carnegie Medal to Fidler.