Frederick Oliver EM

b. ? d. ?

DATE OF EM ACTION: 27/09/1924 Charlton, London.

Very little is known about the life of Frederick Oliver, a workman for Messrs G. E. Weston & Sons in London, who whilst working at an electrical works in Charlton, London, was awarded the Edward Medal on 27th September 1924.

 

EM CITATION:

On  September   27th,   1924,   while  workmen were  engaged   on  sinking  shafts  at  the  Elec-trical  Engineering   Works  of  Messrs.   Johnson and  Phillips,  at  Charlton,  one  of them  named Timpson  descended  a  shaft  which  was  about 26  feet  in  depth.    He  was  overcome  by  gas and  lay  unconscious  at  the  bottom.    A  fellow worker  named  Bass  attempted   to  reach  him but  was  affected   by  the  gas  before   reaching the  bottom  of the  shaft  and  was  compelled  to return  to the  surface.    Oliver,  a foreman,  then attempted  a  rescue.    He  tied  a  handkerchief over  his  mouth  and  descended  the  shaft   but was  overcome  on reaching  the  bottom  and collapsed.  Krull, knowing that Timpson  and Oliver were unconscious in the  shaft,  dipped  a  muffler in  water  and   tied  it   round   his  mouth  and nostrils.    With  a  rope round his  body he descended the  shaft  and  succeeded in  bringing  up Timpson.    He  then  went  down  a  second  time and brought  Oliver  also  to  the  surface.    Timpson  unfortunately  was  beyond  aid  but  Oliver though  unconscious  when  he  reached  the  surface,  eventually responded  to treatment. Both Krull and Oliver performed a very brave action.    Krull  had  been  a  miner  and  was well aware  of  the  risk  he  was  running.    He  knew that  three  men had  been  overcome by  the  gas and  he  was  undoubtedly  the  means  of  saving Oliver’s life.    Oliver, too,  showed great courage in  his  attempted  rescue  of Timpson  at  the  riskof  his own  life.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.