At a recent presentation at Radstock Museum, Mike Golledge and family members, together with members of the Shoscombe Local History Group, presented an Edward Medal to Stephen Clews, of the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Museum Society.

The medal was awarded to Herbert Golledge (1883-1957), Mike Golledge’s grandfather, for bravery at Braysdown Colliery in February 1917.

Herbert Golledge was employed as a “hitcher” at a branch coal hole off the main shaft of Braysdown Colliery. George Weeks, the under manager was ascending the shaft when the cage was struck by falling water pipes which crashed through the upper deck of the cage badly injuring George Weeks and halting the cage which was left suspended in the shaft.

Herbert was working about 80 yards above the cage and quickly climbed down to the wreckage. Herbert tended George’s wounds, kept him as warm as possible and waited some four hours in freezing cold and semi-darkness before the cage could be brought to the surface. George Weeks survived.

Herbert received a Certificate of Merit and £10 from the Carnegie Hero Fund, a gold watch and six guineas from the owner and men of Braysdown Colliery and was presented with the Edward Medal (2nd Class) by George V at Buckingham Palace on 20th October 1917.

The Edward Medal (named after Edward VII) was a British civilian decoration which was instituted by royal warrant on 13th July 1907 to recognise acts of bravery of miners and quarrymen in endangering their lives to rescue their fellow workers. The ribbon is dark blue edged with yellow.

The medal was awarded 395 times: 77 silver (1st Class) & 318 bronze (2nd Class), but was discontinued in 1971 (although only posthumous awards were made after 1949).

Only three were awarded to Somerset miners. Surviving recipients of the Edward Medal (along with holders of the Albert Medal) were then invited to exchange their award for the George Cross.

Nine (2 silver, 7 bronze) elected not to exchange their medals.

In due course, Herbert Golledge’s medal will be displayed along with other awards at the Museum.