Algernon Edward Mann OBE AM

b. 22/09/1886 Wexford, Ireland.  d. 06/06/1949 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

DATE OF AM ACTION: 25/02/1911 Rangoon, Burma.

Algernon E Mann
OBE AM

Algernon Mann was the son of Isaac John Mann from Wexford, Ireland. He was educated at Brighton House School, Redland, Bristol and Dean Close School, Cheltenham, before training as a civil engineer. In August 1899, aged 11, he saved two people from drowning at Fishguard, South Wales, earning himself the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society. Once qualified he was appointed Assistant Engineer of the Rangoon Municipality and on 24th January 1911, was commissioned into the Rangoon Volunteer Rifles. He served throughout WWI in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. By the end of the War he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers and was appointed OBE. After the war, he returned to civil engineering. On 22nd February 1923 he married Sylvia Helen Spankie and they had two sons. He retired to Hom Lodge, Ross on Wye and died at Cheltenham on 6th June 1949.

 

AM CITATION:

On the afternoon of Saturday, the 25th February 1911, when the steamship “Leicestershire,” of the Bibby Line, was being brought alongside the Sule Pagoda Wharf, Rangoon, a Singalese servant, who was leaning against a loose railing, fell overboard between the vessel and the wharf, striking his head against the edge of the wharf in falling, and was in imminent danger of being drowned or crushed to death between the incoming steamer and the wharf. Mr. Mann was awaiting the arrival of the vessel, and at great risk to his own life, for the moving vessel was only a few feet away at the time, immediately started to clamber down the stanchions of the Wharf. He slipped and fell into the river, but was able to reach the drowning man, and swim with him to one of the stanchions, where he supported him until ropes were lowered, and both were rescued.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: CHELTENHAM CREMATORIUM, CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

ASHES SCATTERED IN GARDEN 2.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.

Acknowledgement:

Allan Stanistreet – Image of Algernon Mann OBE AM.