Medals from the Collection of R.W. Gould, MBE

Pair: Police Fireman J. B. Graham, Stockport Fire Brigade

The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 5th type (1892-1901) silver medal (John Balfour Graham, Stockport, 5th November 1902) fitted with silver ribbon buckle; The Fire Brigade Association, gold medal, the reverse hallmarked Birmingham 1902, 18 carat, and inscribed ‘John Balfour Graham, Police Fire Brigade, Stockport. Rescuing 26 Lives by horse escape from fifth floor, Vernon Mills, Guy Fawkes Day 1902’, fitted with gold ribbon buckle, good very fine (2) £550-650

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of R.W. Gould, MBE.

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See Colour Plate XI

‘At about 4 o’clock in the afternoon of November 5, 1902 (Guy Fawkes Day), a serious fire occurred at the No. 1 Vernon Mill, Portwood. The fire spread with great rapidity throughout the building and at about 5 o’clock all hope of saving the building was abandoned when three of the floors of the mill collapsed with a deafening roar, huge tongues of flame soaring high into the darkening night sky. As the fire had spread so rapidly, many of the three hundred employees were unable to make their way out of the
building when the alarm was raised, and within minutes the staircases and landings were choked with a pitiful mass of struggling humanity, all trying to escape from the terrible conditions which prevailed. Whilst some of the operatives had the strength and courage to fight their way through the smoke and heat to the ground floor and safety, others found themselves forced to take refuge on the upper floors of the mill, hoping that they could escape from the inferno.

Numerous stories of heroism were later related, however the feat of bravery which received the greatest acclaim was that carried out by Police Fireman John Balfour Graham. When the Brigade’s newly acquired 60-foot horse drawn fire escape arrived at the scene of the fire, it was manoeuvred into position and then fully extended in an attempt to reach the employees trapped on the upper floors of the building. Without hesitation, Fireman Graham ascended the extended ladder, then, whilst clinging precariously with his legs to the topmost part of the ladder, some sixty feet from the ground, and periodically inundated with smoke and flame issuing from the many windows of the mill, he was able to assist the operatives out of the window, some clambering down his body onto the ladder. They were then assisted by other firemen down the ladder to safety.

Twenty-six operatives were rescued in this remarkable operation and as each one attained safety, loud cheers erupted from the large crowd which had assembled. Nine employees lost their lives in the disastrous fire and thirty required hospital treatment, many of the injuries being “brush” burns to hands and arms, received during their descent down the ropes.’

In addition to the two medallic awards, Fireman Graham was presented with a gold watch by the English Church Union. Sold with further research, including contemporary newspaper accounts.