WAR HONOURS FOR THE FACTORY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 6

WAR HONOURS FOR THE FACTORY

AN OLD MAN'S PATRIOTISM

FROM AUSTRALIA TO DO HIS BIT AT 74

For services of special merit rendered to the Empire by men and women in manual and other work done for the war fifty-two awards of tho Medal of the Order of tho British Empire are announced. The list includes the names of eleven women engaged in munition works.

Many splendid cases of presence of mind and courage ,in dealing with fires in explosive factories aro recorded in the list, which/also contains some fine instances ~of devotion to duty. One of the most notablo is that of Thomas Harper, aged 74, who voyaged from Australia at his own expense to do his part Sn the war in the making of shells. I'or two years he has put in_ an average o? 54 hours per week, and is 6tftted to. be actually doing the work of ' two men. •He has sometimes fainted at his work, but has rofused to go home, stating that he could not re6t while ho thought itho. country wanted shells. A notable deed rewarded is that of Miss Dolly Gladys Vickers, who had her hand ■burned by tho explosion of a fuse on ■which she was working. She picked it lip while still burning, carried it several yards,- and threw it nitside tt.e building. The .list includes the name of a number of men rewarded "for devotion to duty in carrying out important repairs in the Grand Fleet during action."

A selection of the awards is given below.— Jeannis Algar, for presence of mind and pood example on the occasion of an explosion at a shell-filling factory. Jack Bide, transport foreman, for repeated aots of courage ill dealing with leaks from drums of gas. .Walter Woodward, for work in dealing it ith a dangerous mixture at a gaa manufactory. Jliss Maude Bruce, forewoman, for admirable behaviour in charge of the woman's fire brigade at a fire at an explosives factory.

Flro Extinguished. Miss Netta Daniel, for. presence of mind and courage in going to the scene of fire in an explosives factory and taking action to extinguish it. Miss Isabella Dixon, for presence of mind and courage in entering a burning room in iin explosive factory and playing a hose upon the flames. John Fisher, for great devotion to duty. ■Although sixty years of age, has workcd very long hou.-s in most arduous ' duties at a works manufacturing fuse

Jfiss V. Golding, for .devotion to duty in resuming work after losing afinwr and thumb through an accident in the making of detonators. (Ralph Goldney, for devotion to duty. •' Remained at his work at a filling factory when suffering from_ merourial poisoning due to dealing with fulminate of mercury, and although advised by the doctor that he would not recover while he remained in. contact with it, he continued to carry out his .' duties until other people could bo trained to replace him. .

Septuagenarian's Example. , JThomas Harper, for great devotion to duty. Aged seventy-four yeaw. Having retired owing to old age and gone to Australia, when the war_ started he wrote and offered his services to hia firm in order to assist. Ho. came over ' at his own expense, and for over two •years has put in an average ofMtyfour hours per week, and has actually done the work of two men. Sometimes he has fainted at his work, and has then refused to go home, stating that he could not rest while he thought his country wanted shells. J.. Lloyd, for valuable services in sug"esting new patterns .of targets tor the testing of rifles' for shooting. Ivon Pugh, for presence of mind and courage in carrying into fe open; at an explosives factory a bucket con- • taining an explosive whicn had taken fire and threatened loss of life and damage to property. When it exploded he suffer >d very severe personal injuries. , Miss Lizzie Robinson, for de^on, to ■ duty in a national projectile factory. She has hot lost any time in a veaVs service at the factory, although • the factory has -recently beon working at very high pressure.

Undaunted. Miss Annie Rose, for devotion to duty. Received injuries at the iactory whicn Sed in the loss of two Angers of her left hand. She returned, and at her own request was. employed again on • courazo in securing the • arrest ot a man. who had obtained entrance to a filling factory under suspicious circumstances. ■