SEAMAN'S GALLANTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 10

SEAMAN'S GALLANTRY.

AID IN A GLASGOW FIRE. LONDON HERO IN AUCKLAND. RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY. WOUND FROM ASSASSIN'S KNIFE. A young Londoner, Mr. A. G. F. Ford, aged 27 years, who arrived at Auckland a few days ago as a fireman on the steamer Matakana, is tho proud possessor , of the Royal Humane Society's gold medal, awarded him just before he left England for bravery displayed during a disastrous fire which destroyed £250,000 worth of property in Glasgow last July. For his gallantry and his services in assisting tho fire brigade he received the congratulations of the Lord Mayor of Glasgow and donations from various Boorces totalling £465. It was on the evening of July 7, a few hours after tho Matakana had put in at Glasgow to load cargo for Auckland, that Mr. Ford observed from the deck of the ship the first trail of smoke rising from the roof of tho Kelvin Hall —Glasgow's hngo Olympia, reputed to be the largest building in Scotland. As he was prepared for shore leave, he took a tram to see the spectacle at close quarters, but had hardly reached the spot when he saw, from the car window, a puff of smoke isstiiug from the roof* of the United Free Church in Kelvingrove Street, situated some distance from the Kelvin Hall. As there was no brigade in the vicinity, he jumped off the car and broke the glass of tho alarm box with his fist, which was badly cut. Entering the church, he informed tlio astonished caretaker that tho building was on fire, having apparently become ignited by drifting sparks. Between them they secured the keys, unlocked the vestry door and set to work to remove all the valuables that lay within their reach,' including the pulpit Bible. They had saved many pounds worth of ornaments and personal effects and were about to enter the church for more, when the wholo roof fell in with a deafening crash, sending up a tremendous flare. Outbreak in Flats Suppressed. A moment later the high-class residential flats on the other side of the street caught fire, and it was Mr. Ford who first notified the brigade superintendent. Before a single fireman could be relieved to attend to this fresh development the'young seaman seenred, a lead of hose connected with the engine and, although somewhat exhausted by his earlier efforts, carried the hose to the top of the building and again injured his hand in breaking through the glass skylight to get to the - roof. He was instrumental, however, in checking the 'advance of the flames before the firemjsn arrived and suppressed the outbreak. After four hours' exertion and loss of blood, hia wounds wero dressed at the hospital. A grateful Glasgow,, public subscribed £2OO. in recognition of his gallantry. He received, m addition from the insurance companies, baing half .par. cent, of the total value tha salvage - (£33,000), while a donation of £IOO was made by the 1 London Daily Mirror. He has not spent a ponny of all this money, which lies to his credit in a London bank. Ait Encounter In Hamburg. Hie initiative displayed by the young seaimn m aJHfce in view during with . a band of German"roughs" in. Hamburg two years ago.' At that time ue was a member of the ,crew of the Orduna, and, ;■ with two English companions, was passing through the back streets of the city when, he was approached by a young German who asked for a cigarette. This, apparently, was a ruse commonly adopted . 1 toward foreigners as a prelude to demand- ■ tog monay. The declined 1 selves *oiie of them was, killed outright by a blow from a knuckleduster, another received a severe "gash in the throat from a knife, while Mr. Ford himself was etabbed by » similar weapon just below the left ear. Asa result, he practically lost his hearing and bears the gears of the wound to this day. Anxious to Settle Here. The young seaman is. among the members of the Matikana'a crew who are on shore as' a result.,of the strike, and', he is ajJl'iarently not at all anxious to go back the ship. '' I like this country," he i ajki d yesterday, "and lam hoping to .stay J hWe." in the ordinary course of events .I' hiji believes he would have obtained his disil'hargo, but in view of the striko this \ fa iikely to be a remote dispensation. He ! Is a. hairdresser by trade, but is looking •i at present for, anything he can turn his I hand to. ... '•. ~ ~ "If lam able to stop here, he said, ."it won't be long before I have that , £465 in m Auckland bank." ,