Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Singles

Lot 2898    SESSION 14 (2.30PM THURSDAY 1ST AUG)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Singles

Estimate $6,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,000

GEORGE MEDAL, (GVIR FID:DEF), with pin-back suspender. John Scott McIndoe. Chisel engraved. In Royal Mint case of issue, toned extremely fine.

Together with a book titled The George Medal compiled and edited by W.H.Fevyer, by Spink & Son Ltd, London, 1980, soft cover, 114pp, being a list with citations of George Medallists 1940-1945.^LG Supplement 20/6/1950, p3178 - award of George Medal to John Johnston, Shift Foreman and John Scott McIndoe, Rack Attendant, both from British Oxygen Company Ltd, Glasgow.^Citation: At the factory of British Oxygen Company, Ltd., one of several hundred steel cylinders which had been filled with acetylene gas slipped out of a man's hands and fell on to a concrete platform. Black smoke poured from the damaged cylinder in considerable volume and the man who had let it slip, and other workers, immediately ran from the room. Johnston and McIndoe, however, realised the very dangerous possibilities of fire or explosion if the damaged cylinder was left beside such a large number of filled cylinders. Without regard to the consequences to themselves they rolled the cylinder, still emitting black smoke and becoming hot, out of the end door of the filling room into the yard. Having got it into a position where, should it explode, it was not likely to affect the other cylinders, Johnston ran for a fire hose. The cylinder, however, was getting hotter and McIndoe shouted a warning and himself moved away from it. The cylinder then exploded. Some damage was done to the structure of nearby buildings, but no one suffered any physical injury. Both Johnston and McIndoe were well aware of the danger of fire and explosion, but with great courage and coolness they instantly took steps to remove the damaged cylinder in order to minimise the effect of any explosion that might occur. During the time it took to roll the cylinder a distance of about 40 yards they were in imminent danger of losing their lives or of being severely injured.^With copy of London Gazette Supplement.