HEROES OF THE MINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 127, 21 February 1908, Page 8

HEROES OF THE MINE.

A NEW ROYAL MEDAL. ;"' '' • Those thatgo downto the sea in ships and those ' who- do : battlo .against the King's onomiesare honoured when they perform, deeds of heroism. . Dangers just as terriblo as any which-.these : front are grappled with, pn : prosaic underground;,workers 'of mine, whose deeds of 'subterranean gallantry, are often"as ; deserving of reward as any .wrought oil,sea or shore. A Gazette notice states that the King has created for these a new arid special medal, which : will' bo awarded subject to tho following conditions:— j ■; . .' The. medal will bp .of two classes; to bo styled "Tho Edward., Medal of tho First Class " .and, " Tho'Edward Medal ' of tho Second Class.""V Thq_Mc'dal of,the First Class will ■ consist of a .circular medal; of silver, with the royal.offigy' on'the obverse,.and on ■tho reverse ii'.desig'n'representing _the rescuo -of a .: minerin th;-.tho inscription, "For courage." ( ; The . Medal of tho Second Class ■ will; consist, of medal of bronzo of a similar' design;' ; The- medals will only be awarded to ithose of. th'o. King's . subjects and othors.who,.' in saving or, endeavouring to. savo tho. lives of .other's from-perils in mines and quarries within His Majesty's Dominions and in territories' 'under his' protection or jurisdiction, havo endangered their own lives, and tlio award will, bo riia;do only on a recommendation .'.to tlio ..'King by the principal Secretary, of Staljo.for.tho Home Department; Any act of gallantry which is worthy of recognition by .the. award of tho Edward Medal,", but is performed by one upon whom tho decoration' has-already .been conferred, may, on a recommendation by ,tho principal Secretary, of State for the-Homo Department, bo recordixl ,by' a • bar attached to tho riband by which the medal "is'suspended; and for every such additional act an additi6nal ! bar may bo added. In order.'to make such provision as shall effectually preservo pure these hiost'. honourable 'decorations, 'it ' is ordained that if any': person on whom either of such decorations is'conferred be guilty-of any • criino. or disgraceful coiiduct which,'in the King's . judgment, disqualifies him for the same,'his name shall; by ajci especial warrant under the Royal' Sign Manual, be forthwith" erased frop-the'registor of those upon 'whom tho" said; decoration shall have been conferred/: and his medal shall be forfeitod. And every person to'whom the said medal is given/shall, before receiving the same, enter 'Sntp-an agreement-to'return the same 'if his name shall be so, erased as aforesaid under this "regulation. 'The'-King, his heirs' and successors, shall be'-.the sole judges of the -'circumstances demanding such forfeiture, and shall at all times havo power to regrant a medal that has been forfeited.