WELLINGTON PIT DISASTER EDWARD MEDAL

A bravery medal from Whitehaven's Wellington Pit disaster and a 1830s Maryport shipbuilder's ledger will be among the items going under the hammer at a Cockermouth sale next week.

The Edward Medal, which in the mining world's equivalent to the Victoria Cross, was awarded to John Thomas Mather for courage shown in the attempted rescue of miners trapped by fire in the Wellington Pit disaster in Whitehaven on May 11, 1910.

Sixty four men were awarded bronze Edward medals after the disaster - the greatest number ever given for one incident, which underlines the scale of the tragedy in which 136 men and boys died.

The medal comes with its original presentation case from the direct descendants of Mr Mather. It is expected to sell for between £1,200 to £1,500.

To read the complete article, see:
Whitehaven pit disaster medal to go under the hammer in Cockermouth (http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/Whitehaven-pit-disaster-medal-to-go-under-the-hammer-in-Cockermouth-5a5346fd-2756-4b7d-a25e-df726510fabf-ds)

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