Latest news with #GeorgeCross
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Miner's George Cross bought by council at auction
A George Cross awarded to a miner for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery has been bought by a council at auction. Charles Smith was honoured for helping save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January 1940. The medal was bought for £12,000 by City of Doncaster Council and is now set to go on display at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum later this year. Mayor Ros Jones said: "As the daughter of a miner, I am delighted that this important medal recognising a life-saving achievement at a Doncaster pit, is coming back to the city." The medal was sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 May. The council said the purchase was made possible through a private donation. Jones added: "This is an important part of our heritage and even more so, given these are so rarely awarded. "I hope people come and see this medal and read its story." Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners received the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971. "Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross," said Mr Pepys. "Exchanging the medal makes it a much rarer award, which attracted substantial interest." Following his Edward Medal exploits, Mr Smith entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War Two. For his wartime services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; the Burma Star; the Defence Medal; and the War Medal 1939-45. Following demobilisation in 1945, he returned to the coal industry and was employed at Stargate Colliery in Ryton until 1961. He later worked in the coking industry at Derwenthaugh, County Durham until his retirement in 1973. He died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction City of Doncaster Council
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Miner's auctioned George Cross to return to Doncaster
A George Cross awarded to a miner for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery has been bought by a council at Smith was honoured for helping save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January medal was bought for £12,000 by City of Doncaster Council and is now set to go on display at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum later this Ros Jones said: "As the daughter of a miner, I am delighted that this important medal recognising a life-saving achievement at a Doncaster pit, is coming back to the city." The medal was sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 council said the purchase was made possible through a private added: "This is an important part of our heritage and even more so, given these are so rarely awarded."I hope people come and see this medal and read its story." Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners received the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971."Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross," said Mr Pepys."Exchanging the medal makes it a much rarer award, which attracted substantial interest."Following his Edward Medal exploits, Mr Smith entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War his wartime services he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; the Burma Star; the Defence Medal; and the War Medal 1939-45. Following demobilisation in 1945, he returned to the coal industry and was employed at Stargate Colliery in Ryton until later worked in the coking industry at Derwenthaugh, County Durham until his retirement in died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction
Miner's George Cross to be sold at auction 14 minutes ago Share Save Tim Dale BBC News, Yorkshire Share Save Noonans Charles Smith was originally awarded an Edward Medal, which was later replaced with a George Cross A George Cross awarded to a mineworker for his gallantry in rescuing a man trapped underground at a colliery is to be sold at auction. Charles Smith was honoured for helping to save Charles Liversedge when he was buried following a roof collapse at Askern Main Colliery, near Doncaster, on 3 January 1940. He was first awarded a bronze Edward Medal, but was invited to exchange it for a George Cross when the medal was discontinued in 1971. The medal is being sold by a private collector in an auction at Noonans Mayfair on 14 May, where it is expected to fetch between £8,000 and £10,000. Oliver Pepys, auctioneer and medal specialist for Noonans, said only 319 miners recieved the original Edward Medal in bronze between 1907 and 1971. "Smith was one of just 30 miners who had received the Edward Medal in bronze to exchange his medal for the George Cross, making it a much rarer award," he said. Noonans Charles Smith went on to service in Burma during World War Two before returning to the coal industry until his retirement Mr Smith was born in Wigan, in1908 before becoming a miner at the age of 12. It was while he was employed at Askern Main Colliery that the roof fall took place in the Warren House Seam, trapping Charles Liversedge. According to the London Gazette: "He was extricated some three hours later, without having suffered serious injury, through the gallantry displayed, in conditions of the greatest risk, by a rescue party." Mr Smith was presented with his medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 2 July 1940. The miner later entered the military and served in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, during World War Two. Hr went on to work at Stargate Colliery, in Ryton-on-Tyne, County Durham, from 1945 to 1961 where he averted another disaster in 1953 when he spotted a frayed cable on a mine shaft lift just as the lift, full of miners, was about to be lowered. The lift was emptied and the cable repaired. In a letter from the Colliery's Consultative Committee, the secretary thanked him for the "manner in which averted a disastrous occurrence". Having elected to exchange his Edward Medal for the George Cross, he was invested with it by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 18 July, 1972, and subsequently received the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He died at Blaydon, County Durham, on 25 October, 1987. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Lord Ashcroft: I will take Imperial War Museum to court over Victoria Cross gallery
Lord Ashcroft has threatened to sue the trustees of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) over plans to close down his namesake gallery housing the world's largest collection of Victoria Crosses. The billionaire businessman has repeatedly criticised the museum's decision to shut down the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, which displays his £70 million collection of 230 Victoria Cross (VC) and George Cross (GC) medals. He has called for the IWM to delay the closure date from June 1 until Sept 30 so the gallery will remain open for children during the summer holidays and for VJ (Victory over Japan) Day on Aug 15. He claimed the loan agreement for the medals was due to expire on Sept 30 and he would take legal action if this was not respected. 'I have written today to the trustees of the museum to ask that the full term of our agreement be respected,' Lord Ashcroft, 79, said in a post on X on Friday. 'I am hopeful that they will agree. However, if not, I firmly intend to ask the courts to intervene. 'In the meantime, I trust that the museum will not resort to any precipitation of the gallery closure by invoking a termination of our agreement. That could not possibly be in the public interest, and it will be resisted.' The Lord Ashcroft Gallery was opened in 2010 following a £5 million donation from the life peer and the medals were loaned out for 15 years. The museum announced earlier this year that the gallery would close to make way for new exhibits exploring post-Second World War conflicts, including the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, which it says are 'less well represented'. The IWM said it would display its own, far smaller, collection of VC and GC medals and that Lord Ashcroft's entire collection would be returned to him. The Telegraph understands that Lord Ashcroft has been unable to find a suitable vault to contain the collection and has asked that the museum provide a suitable location in the meantime and has threatened legal action if they do not. Lord Ashcroft said he met with living recipients of VC and GC medals at the gallery on Friday as part of an annual reunion for members of the Victoria Cross & George Cross Association. He said the meeting had him 'determined' to keep the gallery open for the complete duration of his agreement with the museum. 'This morning, observing heroes who were present in the gallery marvelling at the exploits of heroes who are no longer with us made me determined that the gallery stay open for the complete duration of my agreement with IWM,' he said. 'In other words, it should close not on May 31, but on September 30. This will enable families to visit during the school holidays, and be open for visitors to London for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on August 15.' Lord Ashcroft has previously claimed that the museum did not inform him about its plan for the gallery before a public announcement in February. He has questioned why he was not informed when the museum first made the decision in July last year. The decision by the museum has previously attracted criticism from veterans and politicians, who say the sacrifice and heroism of Britain's bravest soldiers risks being forgotten. 'Significant expenditure' An IWM spokesman said: 'We are aware of the comments made by Lord Ashcroft today. 'The original 1 June date was set out to enable the condition checking and security measures to take place prior to the end of the loan agreement in accordance with the Government Indemnity Scheme cover. 'Every potential extension was examined carefully, and an offer to keep the gallery opened until the 31 July has been made to Lord Ashcroft. 'Such extension of the gallery remaining open until that date, will put some strains on the work to decant within the time period as set out in the loan agreement. 'Any further extension or delay beyond the loan period will add significant expenditure to IWM and exposure for the taxpayer.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lord Ashcroft: I will take Imperial War Museum to court over Victoria Cross gallery
Lord Ashcroft has threatened to sue the trustees of the Imperial War Museum (IWM) over plans to close down his namesake gallery housing the world's largest collection of Victoria Crosses. The billionaire businessman has repeatedly criticised the museum's decision to shut down the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, which displays his £70 million collection of 230 Victoria Cross (VC) and George Cross (GC) medals. He has called for the IWM to delay the closure date from June 1 until Sept 30 so the gallery will remain open for children during the summer holidays and for VJ (Victory over Japan) Day on Aug 15. He claimed the loan agreement for the medals was due to expire on Sept 30 and he would take legal action if this was not respected. 'I have written today to the trustees of the museum to ask that the full term of our agreement be respected,' Lord Ashcroft, 79, said in a post on X on Friday. 'I am hopeful that they will agree. However, if not, I firmly intend to ask the courts to intervene. 'In the meantime, I trust that the museum will not resort to any precipitation of the gallery closure by invoking a termination of our agreement. That could not possibly be in the public interest, and it will be resisted.' The Lord Ashcroft Gallery was opened in 2010 following a £5 million donation from the life peer and the medals were loaned out for 15 years. The museum announced earlier this year that the gallery would close to make way for new exhibits exploring post-Second World War conflicts, including the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, which it says are 'less well represented'. The IWM said it would display its own, far smaller, collection of VC and GC medals and that Lord Ashcroft's entire collection would be returned to him. The Telegraph understands that Lord Ashcroft has been unable to find a suitable vault to contain the collection and has asked that the museum provide a suitable location in the meantime and has threatened legal action if they do not. Lord Ashcroft said he met with living recipients of VC and GC medals at the gallery on Friday as part of an annual reunion for members of the Victoria Cross & George Cross Association. He said the meeting had him 'determined' to keep the gallery open for the complete duration of his agreement with the museum. 'This morning, observing heroes who were present in the gallery marvelling at the exploits of heroes who are no longer with us made me determined that the gallery stay open for the complete duration of my agreement with IWM,' he said. 'In other words, it should close not on May 31, but on September 30. This will enable families to visit during the school holidays, and be open for visitors to London for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on August 15.' Lord Ashcroft has previously claimed that the museum did not inform him about its plan for the gallery before a public announcement in February. He has questioned why he was not informed when the museum first made the decision in July last year. The decision by the museum has previously attracted criticism from veterans and politicians, who say the sacrifice and heroism of Britain's bravest soldiers risks being forgotten. An IWM spokesman said: 'We are aware of the comments made by Lord Ashcroft today. 'The original 1 June date was set out to enable the condition checking and security measures to take place prior to the end of the loan agreement in accordance with the Government Indemnity Scheme cover. 'Every potential extension was examined carefully, and an offer to keep the gallery opened until the 31 July has been made to Lord Ashcroft. 'Such extension of the gallery remaining open until that date, will put some strains on the work to decant within the time period as set out in the loan agreement. 'Any further extension or delay beyond the loan period will add significant expenditure to IWM and exposure for the taxpayer.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
