Description
Physical description
MODEL.
Overse design: King George V, head, left profile.
Obverse legend: "GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP:".
Reverse design: miner, lying injured in narrow mine gallery, his pit axe beside him. Attending the injured figure a male rescuer, half-kneeling, his right arm extended to support a pit prop and carrying a Davy safety lamp in his left hand.
Reverse text: "FOR COURAGE".
Suspender: ring, oval (swivel).
Ribbon pattern: dark blue & yellow - dark blue having at either edge a narrow yellow stripe (2.5 mm wide).
History note
Inter-war period Edward Medal (George V issue, first type) in bronze awarded to James Sydney Purvis for life-saving following an accident at the South Garesfield Colliery, Northumberland, on 17 May 1929. For full details of award see the London Gazette, 22 November 1922, issue number 33554, pp. 7532-7533.
James Sydney Purvis was born Northumberland in 1904 and started work at South Garesfield Colliery as a pony driver at the age of 14; by 1929 he was working as an onsetter at the bottom of the pit shaft. After the accident he continued to work at the same colliery until the pit closed in 1956; he then worked in the Maintenance Department of Ransome, Marles, Beary and Company until his retirement in 1969. He surrendered his Edward Medal to the Home Office in exchange for a George Cross in 1972.
History note
History of award : the medal was instituted in 1907 for acts of gallantry performed by miners and quarrymen who endangered their own lives in saving and endeavouring to save the lives of others in mines or quarries. 1909 the award was extended to British subjects, who in the course of industrial employment risked their lives in saving or trying to save the lives of others from dangers encountered in the course of their work. The medals were of silver and bronze and were originally known as the Edward Medals of the First and Second Class. In August 1917, however, their designations were altered to the Edward Medal in Silver and the Edward Medal. Abbott and Tamplin (see Documentation) state that the reverse design was by G W de Saulles; other authorities state that the reverse was W Reynolds-Stephens.
(References : Abbott, P E & Tamplin, J M A : 1971 : British Gallantry Awards : Guinness Superlatives, Enfield pp 151-159; Dorling, H T (Captain) & Guille, L F, 1970, Ribbons and Medals, George Philip, London, p 51.)
Engraved, rim
JAMES SYDNEY PURVIS