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

Three: Police Sergeant John Danzey, Metropolitan Police

Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, Metropolitan Police (P.C., T. Divn.); Coronation 1902, Metropolitan Police (P.S., J. Div.); The Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 4th type (1892-1901) bronze medal (John Danzey, 22nd December 1899) polished, otherwise nearly very fine and scarce (3) £300-350

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

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Police Constables Danzey, Weavers, Baker, Read, and Elrick were each awarded the Society’s bronze medal for their services at a fire at the Elephant & Castle public house in Wick Road, Hackney, on 22 December 1899, in which Constable George Funnell lost his life.

The house was closed at 1.30 a.m., and at that time the occupants were Mrs Fowler (the wife of the landlord), Alice Maryon and Minnie Lewis (barmaids), and William Goodridge (a barman). Constable Thomas Baker said that he discovered the fire, and the deceased, with witness Sergeant Danzey, and Constable Read, went into the house when the barman opened the door. This caused a considerable draught and the fire immediately spread in all directions. Funnell, hearing that there were other persons in the house, disappeared through the flames and witness did not see him again until after the fire had been got under control. He was then rescued by witness [Danzey] and the other officers, but he was unconscious and badly burned. Sergeant Danzey said that the other officers were so overcome that they had to go on the sick-list. One of the men nearly fell into the fire from exhaustion.

Sold with further research including an article from the L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 25 concerning the heroism of Constable Funnell, with a group photograph of the other five constables.