Casgliadau Arlein

‘Order of Industrial Heroism’ medals were sponsored by the Daily Herald newspaper from 1923 to 1964. It was commonly known as the ‘Workers’ VC’ being mainly awarded to manual workers who had saved their fellow workers from danger or death. Each recipient was given a monetary prize along with the medal and an accompanying framed certificate which were designed by the artist Eric Gill. The certificate depicted Saint Christopher in front of a smoking chimney carrying the young Christ across water towards a walled garden with a red star above. Eric Gill is described by the Dictionary of National Biography as ‘the greatest artist-craftsman of the twentieth century: a letter-cutter and type designer of genius’. However, he was also a controversial character following the revelations of his sexual abuse of two of his daughters.

Each certificate stated, ‘Presented as a mark of respect and admiration to [name] a brave man who in a moment of peril thought more of others than of himself’.

Many of the awards were posthumous and only two were awarded to women. Six medals were awarded to groups of miners involved in mine rescue work.

The Daily Herald was the official newspaper of the Trade Union Congress and one of the world’s largest circulation newspaper. It ceased publication in 1964 and was re-launched as The Sun.

This particular medal, number 90, was awarded to Mr Lewis Thomas Philips, who at great personal danger to himself, saved the life of Mr. Richard Shepherd who was trapped by the revolving picks of a chain coal cutter underground in Britannia Colliery on 15th June 1933. The presentation ceremony took place at the Workmen’s Institute, Pengam on 5th November 1933.

Lewis Philips lived in Machen and was captain of the local rugby team for several years until 1930. Although described as a ‘collier’ in the official list of medal recipients, he was actually employed as a deputy or ‘fireman’ (a safety official on the coal face) at Britannia Colliery.

The award ceremony was presided over by miners’ agent Mr. Albert Thomas and the award was presented on behalf of the Daily Herald by Mr William Mellor the Industrial Editor. Mr. Meller read the official notification from the Britannia South Wales Miners’ Federation lodge giving the details of the rescue of Richard (‘Dick’) Shepherd and also read out a letter from him to his rescuer from a hospital bed – see 2023.5/2