Siebe Gorman Mines Rescue Team Medal
Some time ago I found a silver, miners rescue competition medal in a box of my old family memorabilia and have been researching its history ever since. The medal cast in Birmingham and hallmarked 1931 was made by WHH – W H Haseler ltd (William Hair Haseler is better known for his silver work for Liberty of London.) The circular medal has the following inscription around the outer ring – ‘The South Derbyshire Coalowners mines rescue cup’, and was awarded in the miners rescue competition which ran at Birmingham University for just 10 years between the 1st and 2nd world wars.
The centre of the medal has a raised image of a man wearing the Siebe Gorman ‘Proto’ breathing apparatus with the wording Siebe Gorman Shield Comptn. around the image. Research shows Siebe Gorman Ltd. sponsored the shield and medals won by the team achieving 2nd place in this miners rescue competition.
Although this medal was struck in 1931 it is possible that a batch of several medals were commissioned in that year but presented over several years as mining rescue teams only seemed to consist of about seven men and as the competition only ran for 10 years just 70 of these medals would have been made.
The sponsors, Siebe Gorman, were a firm which made breathing apparatus mainly for diving purposes producing the first copper diving helmet in 1830 with the first primitive mining rescue breathing equipment being made in the 1870’s.
The sponsors, Siebe Gorman, were a firm which made breathing apparatus mainly for diving purposes producing the first copper diving helmet in 1830 with the first primitive mining rescue breathing equipment being made in the 1870’s.
In 1914 war brought the need for breathing apparatus to be used against gas attacks in the trenches and it also became apparent that such apparatus would be of great benefit in mining rescue situations in all coal mines.
I recently found out that John Petcher (known as Jack Petcher), son of a mine owner and the maternal Grandfather of my husband Julian Baker, was one of the men responsible for the new updated design of the ‘Siebe Gorman Proto’ breathing apparatus used in mining rescue. The apparatus was updated when all coal mines started to acquire and train in the use of this equipment to protect their mining rescue teams.
On 30th September 1933 the Tamworth Herald reported that Wilnecote won the Siebe Gorman Shield Competition and each member was presented with a medal at a ceremony at Atherstone town hall. The names of the winning team were listed but none of my family member’s names appear.
As Coalville and the surrounding area has such a rich history as a mining area I hope that there may be someone reading this article who has more knowledge of the above medal and I would love to hear from you to further my research.
Susan Strong
member of the Coleorton Heritage Group
September 2025
Recent articles by Coleorton Heritage Group members
- Echoes of Empire. A record of the Murree Theatre Group and of the second Anglo-Afghan war (1878-1880)
- The Booth family of The White House, Loughborough Road, Coleorton
- The Church at the edge of the village - St Mary the Virgin, Coleorton
- Toads under and over the road in Coleorton
- WWII at Coleorton School
- More articles >>