Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A unique Albert Medal, Stanhope Gold Medal group of three awarded to G. H. Smith, an employee at the Woburn Sands Brick Works in Bedfordshire, who was decorated for his bravery in rescuing a comrade from a kiln in October 1908 - the latter had ‘practically all of the skin burnt off the lower portion of his body up to the waist’, while Smith himself was ‘a good deal burnt about the hands and feet’

Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, bronze and enamel, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Presented by His Majesty to George Henry Smith for Gallantry in Endeavouring to Save the Life of a Comrade at the Woburn Sands Brick Works on the 24th October 1908’; Royal Humane Society, Stanhope Gold Medal, 1st type (George Henry Smith); Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (George H. Smith, 24th Oct. 1908), three of the applied obverse letters on the first replaced to make-up for loss of same through earlier wear, contact marks to reverse, otherwise very fine, the second and third with partially re-engraved naming details due to wear from edge bruising and both with contact marks, therefore about very fine (3) £4500-5000

Only six A.M., Stanhope Gold Medal combinations have been awarded, the above described one being unique since all of the other A.Ms were for services at sea .

Ex Spink 29 March 1994 (Lot 1024).

A.M. London Gazette 23 July 1909.

‘On 24 October 1908, a workman at the Woburn Sands Brick Works, named Charles Griffin, was precipitated to the bottom of one of the kilns owing to the roof collapsing, and was imprisoned by hot ballast and bricks, the upper part of his body alone being free. His comrade, George Henry Smith, on hearing of the accident at once went to his rescue, but to effect an entry proved to be a work of some difficulty as the wicket through which the bricks were taken into and removed from the kiln was almost completely blocked. He succeeded, however, in reaching his comrade and in removing the bricks and ballast imprisoning the fallen man, who was eventually drawn up to the top of the kiln by means of a rope fastened under his armpits. Griffin subsequently died of the injuries he sustained.’

Royal Humane Society’s Silver Medal (afterwards selected for the Stanhope Gold Medal by the Society’s General Court in 1908), Annual Report, Case No. 36,435 states:

‘At 9.20 a.m. on the 24th October 1908, Charles Griffin was engaged in cleaning ballast from the top of a brick kiln at the Woburn Sands Brick Works, when part of the roof gave way and he fell into the kiln, being buried up to his waist in the red hot ballast. The kiln is about eighteen feet by twenty with a domed roof, on which many tons of brick earth are placed in order to retain the heat when the kiln is working. This ballast, when bricks are being burnt, gets red hot, and holds its heat for a long time. The entrance to the kiln is by a wicket at the bottom, through which a man can readily pass, but when the fall took place the barrow which Griffin was using blocked this opening, leaving a space of only about a foot across. Through this opening Smith made his way and dug away the hot earth from around Griffin, and in about fifteen minutes suceeded in getting him out in a fearfully injured state, when he was removed to the hospital, where he died some days later. Great risk was incurred from the danger of a further fall of the tottering roof, the intense heat, choking dust and poisonous gases with which the kiln was filled.’

A local report published in the Leighton Buzzard Observer on 3 November 1908 adds further background information to Smith’s gallant exploits:

‘Above we give a portrait of George Henry Smith, who, on Saturday week, performed a deed of heroism which compelled the admiration of all who were cognisant of the facts. As recorded in our last issue, Charles Griffin, an employee at the Woburn Sands Brick Works of Messrs. Eastwood & Co. Limited, was precipitated into the bottom of a kiln through the roof collapsing, and buried up to his waist in red hot ballast. Smith immediately went to the assistance of his workmate, making his way to him by means of the wicket, an opening through which the bricks are taken into, and removed from, the kiln. Ordinarily the wicket would have afforded ample space through which to pass into the chamber, but when the barrow Griffin was wheeling fell down, it almost completely blocked the opening, and it was held in place by so large a quantity of brickwork and ballast, that it could not be shifted, Smith having to force his way through an opening, an opening scarcely a foot across. Realising the gravity of the task he was undertaking, Smith remarked to a fellow worker, “It means either one being rescued or two being buried.” And with that resolve he bravely entered on his task.

The ordeal which the brave fellow went through can scarcely be imagined. But some idea may be had by realising a small chamber, perhaps eighteen feet by twenty feet, with a roof loaded with many tons of hot ballast, oscillating ominously, and threatening at any moment to precipitate its deadly load on the two young men beneath, one working feverishly to release his imprisoned friend, the other giving expression to heartrending cries as the hot earth seared his flesh. The rescuer’s task was much impeded by reason of the intense heat, the choking dust, and the poisonous gases which emanated from the chamber’s contents. When at last the work was completed, and Griffin was lifted out, followed by his rescuer, a sigh of intense relief went up from the hearts of those who had been silently watching the place where such a heroic struggle had been waged with death. From the time Smith entered the kiln to the time the rescue was effected was about a quarter of an hour, but it took a long time for him to recover from the effects of his most trying experience.

George Smith, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, was born at Farcet, near Peterborough, and has been engaged during the whole of his working life in the brick-making industry, at present assisting his father, who is a brick-burner. He is above medium height, somewhat sturdily built, and possessed of much muscular strength. Of a modest and retiring disposition, he seemed loth to discuss his brave deed when interviewed by our correspondent. When asked if he could describe his experiences while underneath the shaking roof, he replied that he had no time in which to think of anything but the task which he had set himself. He was prepared, however, to do the same again, should circumstances demand it.

Mr. Mason, the works manager, described Smith’s conduct as heroic. The oscillation of the roof was so pronounced that he felt sure had a train passed by at the time the two were underneath, the whole of it must have collapsed. We are indebted to Mr. Mason for his courtesy in giving facilities for the taking of the photograph, which shows the wicket of the kiln next to the one which collapsed.

We are glad to state the poor fellow Griffin was going on satisfactorily yesterday. If he recovers he will undoubtedly owe his life to his fellow worker.’

Sadly, Griffin, who in addition to his serious burns also sustained two severe head injuries from falling bricks and ballast, succumbed a few days later. As subsequently reported in The Times, Smith was invested with his Stanhope Gold Medal by the Prince of Wales - President of the Royal Humane Society - at Marlborough House on Saturday 27 February 1909: ‘The Prince, in handing him the Gold Medal which is accompanied by £5, told him he was an exceedingly brave man.’