A rare Gemaizah campaign and life saving group of four awarded to Mechanist Quarter-Master...

A rare Gemaizah campaign and life saving group of four awarded to Mechanist Quarter-Master Sergeant Francis Ward, Royal Engineers, one of only 17 recipients of this clasp awarded to the Corps Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (18796 L/Corpl. F. Ward, R.E.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful), (Francis Ward. 25th Sept. 1907.) with bronze ribbon buckle; Order of St. John Lifesaving Medal, 2nd type, bronze (Presented to Francis Ward. 1909.); Khedive’s Star, undated, mounted court-style for display, edge bruising and contact pitting, good fine or better (4) £600-£800 --- R.H.S. Case No. 35878. Bronze Medal to Francis Ward, late Qr. Mr. Sergt., R.E. Dover. ‘9 p.m. 25 Sept. 1907, a well, Dover. Owing to foul air Bert Voller became unconscious while at work in the well 300 ft below the surface. Ward held him up to the fresh air supply for 3 hours and thus saved his life.’ St John Medal for Lifesaving presented by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Grand Prior, at Marlborough House, on Friday, 9th July 1909. ‘Francis Ward (Ex Mechanist Q.M.S., R.E.) Bronze Medal awarded. Ward was in charge of the Military Pumping Station at Dover, on 25th September, 1907. He, with a man named Voller and two others, were working near the bottom of a well 300 feet deep. An unexpected layer of foul air descending the well rendered Voller unconscious. Ward climbed up the scaffolding into the foul air, lowered Voller into the remaining layer of safe air, supported him near the fresh inlet pipe, guided the air current to him, and practised artificial respiration for four and a half hours in total darkness until they were hauled up. The safe air was gradually getting less, and no light would burn in it. No assistance was possible during this time, as no one could pass down through the layer of foul air until it had sufficiently dispersed. When Ward and Voller reached the surface they were much exhausted,’ Francis Ward was born in the Parish of Hinckley, Leicestershire, and was enlisted into the Royal Engineers at Rochester on 6 June 1884, aged 20 years 9 months, a turner and fitter by trade. He served in Egypt from December 1885 to April 1894, was appointed Lance-Corporal in August 1888, and served with 24th Company R.E. in the operations at Gemaizah, 20 December 1888, and on the Nile 1889. The 17 men shown on the 24th Company roll for these operations, including 2 officers, were the only Royal Engineer recipients of the clasp for Gemaizah 1888. Ward was promoted C.S.M., Military Mechanist in June 1897, and to Mechanist Qr. Mr. Sergeant in June 1903. He was discharged on 5 June 1905, and died in Kent on 30 January 1944. Sold with copied discharge papers which confirm all four awards, and other research together with a named silver Odd Fellows badge.