Lot 48
The Ariston Gold Mine Rescue, George Cross, Empire Gallantry Medal Exchange to John Frederick Bell
Military Medals, Decorations and Orders On Land, at Sea, in the Air | E114
Auction: 7 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
The Ariston Gold Mine Rescue, George Cross, Empire Gallantry Medal Exchange, awarded to Underground Manager of the Ariston Gold Mine, Prestea, Gold Coast, John Frederick Bell for Gallantry in saving a number of lives at the Gold Mine on the 17th of May 1930, comprising George Cross (John Frederick Bell, Ariston Gold Mine, Gol Coast, 2nd December 1930.) very fine (1).
Empire Gallantry Medal George Cross Exchange
Extract from the London Gazette, 5th December 1930:
‘St James’s Palace, SW1. 2nd December 1930
The King has been graciously pleased to approve the Award of the Medal of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned:-
For Gallantry.
John Frederick Bell, Underground Manager, Ariston Gold Mine, Prestea, Gold Coast
John Frederick Bell showed great gallantry on the occasion of an accident in the mine on the 17th of May 1930, when he was instrumental in saving the lives of a number of natives who would otherwise have been gassed.
The two men who afterwards went in search of him lost their lives by gas in the attempt, and Bell himself would probably have shared in their fate had he not, when he became unconscious, fallen with his mouth next to a leak in a compressed air pipe.'
John Frederick Bell was born on the 1st of January 1872. He was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal in the London Gazette of the 5th of December 1903, the presentation taking place at Buckingham Place on the 24th of February 1931. The George Cross was invested on the 21st of October 1941, the Empire Gallantry Medal having been returned on the 12th of October 1941. He died on the 1st of May 1950.
A copy of this George Cross was offered for sale by Noonans, (Dix Noonan Webb) but was withdrawn from Sale ‑ 13th of October 2021 Lot 18. The George Cross offered here is the original issue as confirmed by the VC & GC Association.
Sold in Royal Mint Case of Issue.
