The Edward Medal and the Bravery of John Samuel Mathias
The Edward Medal and the Bravery of John Samuel Mathias The Edward Medal Edward Medal The Edward Medal was a British civilian decoration instituted by Royal Warrant on 13 July 1907 to recognise acts of exceptional bravery by miners and quarrymen who risked their lives to rescue fellow workers. Named in honour of King Edward VII , the award originally applied only to mining and quarrying disasters, but a further Royal Warrant of 1 December 1909 extended its scope to include acts of heroism by industrial workers involved in factory accidents and workplace emergencies. This amendment created two distinct versions of the medal: Edward Medal (Mines) and Edward Medal (Industry) . The decoration remained in use until 1971 , when surviving recipients—along with holders of the Albert Medal —were invited to exchange their award for the George Cross , the highest civilian gallantry award in the United Kingdom. Early Life and Family Background John Samuel Mathias was born in 1900 in Neath , ...
