b. ? d. ?
DATE OF EM ACTION: 13/01/1922 Castle Colliery, Llanelly, Wales.
Little is known about the life of collier Rees Thomas other than that he was involved in two acts of gallantry during mining accidents with the second occasion being rewarded with the Edward Medal in Bronze (Mines).
EM CITATION:
On the night of the 13th January, 1922, Thomas, a miner employed at the Castle Colliery, Llanelly, was engaged with two other miners, named Meredith and Griffiths, in blasting operations with gelignite cartridges fired by time fuses. The fuses of the last three cartridges had been ignited, and the party was retiring towards a place of safety when the cartridge fired by Meredith exploded prematurely, severely injuring him. Thomas, with entire disregard of the danger to himself, at once went to his comrade’s assistance, and succeeded in dragging him back some little distance, but the remaining charges then exploded, injuring Thomas in the face and body. Meredith succumbed to his injuries, but Thomas’ action in going back to rescue him when one shot had exploded and the other two were certain to do so was an extremely brave one, and he undoubtedly risked his life. He had distinguished himself by his gallantry on the occasion of a previous accident.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
