Edward Medal (Mines), in silver, 1st Class, Edward VII issue, with bar,
and miniature, issued to John Henry Thorne, in original fitted case,
together with four photographs of Thorne, one showing 'The Permanent Rescue Corps' (Mr J.H. Thorne, but were driven back by the great heat and effusion of gases. The others got to within about 300 yards of the fire, working in the smoke backing from the fire. It was found impossible to penetrate to the scene of the fire or to rescue any of the entombed miners.

Had an explosion occurred a by no means unlikely eventuality, seeing that the mine is a very gassy one they would undoubtedly all have been killed.
Special gallantry was shown by John Henry Thorne, to whom the Edward Medal of the First Class has already been awarded, and by James Littlewood.'

The Miners' Accidents (Rescue and Aid) Act of 1910, and a subsequent 1911 Report of the Departmental Committee on the Organisation of Rescue and Aid in the Case of Accidents in Mines, recommended the number of rescue brigades to be kept in each mine according to the number of miners employed, size of brigades, knowledge and training, and equipment. Specialist safety equipment was used by pit rescue teams, such as breathing apparatus, stretchers, helmets, and ambulances. Superintendent) with a label to the reverse and a postcard, showing rescuers outside a mine

This medal is made even more rare by the fact that John Henry Thorne is only the second person to have received it twice, firstly at the Hamstead Colliery Disaster on 4 March 1908, and secondly at Wellington Colliery on 11 May 1910.

The Edward Medal was instituted by Royal Warrant on 13 July 1907 to recognise acts of bravery by miners and quarrymen in endangering their lives to rescue their fellow workers. The original Royal Warrant was amended by a further Royal Warrant on 1 December 1909 to encompass acts of bravery by all industrial workers in factory accidents and disasters, creating two versions of the Edward Medal: Mines and Industry. Unlike other awards, the cost of the medal was borne by a fund that was created by a group of philanthropists led by a leading mine owner called A. Hewlett.

The Hamstead Colliery Disaster
extracts from The London Gazette 28th July 1908:

'On the 4th March, 1908, a fire broke out at the Hemstead (sic) Colliery; 24 miners were entombed. The above named miners (together with John Welsby, who succumbed) descended the mine at various times at great personal risk to rescue the miners. They were provided with oxygen apparatus, but were unable to effect their object.

His Majesty has been graciously pleased to allow the widow of John Welsby to receive the Medal which would have been granted to her husband.'


Wellington Pit Accident,
extracts from The London Gazette 22nd July 1910:

'On the 11th May, 1910, a terrible fire occurred in the Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, at a point about 4,500 yards from the shafts. Various rescue parties, with great courage and self-devotion and at considerable risk, descended the mine and endeavoured to extinguish the fire and penetrate to the persons in the workings beyond the same. Thorne and Littlewood, fitted with breathing apparatus, reached within a distance of 150 yards of the fire,