b. 20/05/1913 Cockermouth, Cumberland. d. ? 1952 Cockermouth, Cumberland.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 23/04/1930 Workington, Cumberland.
Nicholas was born in Workington, Cumberland on 20th May 1913, and little is known about his childhood. He began work as a painter’s labourer, and aged just 17, he was awarded the Edward Medal for the successful rescue of Thomas Brewis. In 1932, he married Margaret Atkinson in Cockermouth, and he changed careers becoming an electric welder. By the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register, he was living with his wife in Workington, and they had no children. Nicholas died aged just 39 in 1952 in Cockermouth.
EM CITATION:
On the 23rd April, 1930, Thomas Brewis was engaged on painting a chimney 163 feet high at the Derwent Works of the United Steel Companies Ltd., Workington, when he was seen to fall backwards, apparently unconscious, and to be hanging head downwards at a height of about 150 feet. Luckily, as he fell, his feet had become entangled and were held in the ropes of the bosun’s chair in which he had ascended. On observing Brewis’ position, the charge-hand, Fleming, who was stationed on a gantry surrounding the chimney about 80 feet from its base, immediately secured the rope on which Brewis’ chair was suspended and, climbing a vertical iron ladder fixed to the chimney, supported the body of Brewis, who was still unconscious. Meanwhile, Whitehead, a painter’s labourer aged 17 years, ascended the ladder from the gantry and placed a safety belt around Brewis. Fleming and Whitehead then lifted Brewis into the bosun’s chair and secured him there by the hook of the safety belt. In doing so, Fleming’s body was inclined at an angle of about 60 degrees to the vertical ladder. Fleming and Whitehead then came down the ladder steadying and supporting Brewis while the chair was lowered by other workmen to the gantry. Both Fleming and Whitehead incurred serious risks and displayed conspicuous gallantry and resource in effecting the successful rescue of Brewis.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
