Thomas Tattersall, was a member of the Royal Field Artillery during WW1, and was wounded in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme.
However, it was not here that he distinguished himself. In fact it was not on the field of battle at all, but back in England following recovery from his injuries to left arm, right leg and head.
Back in Britain, he was discharged and became a fireman. In 1917 he was in the vicinity when the Morecambe Shell Filling Factory Explosion took place.
On the evening of the 1st October 1917 a fire broke out resulting in explosions said to have been heard in Lancaster, Preston and Blackpool.
At one stage shells could be seen flying into the night sky.
Tattersall went straight in to the source of the fire alone and tried to put it out. Failing to do so, he called for help, and continued to use extinguishers on the building despite repeated explosions.
Tattersall received the Silver Edward Medal in 1918 - one of just 25 Silver Edward Medals ever awarded. Now the medal has come up for sale in Bosley’s Military Auctioneers in Gloucestershire, UK.
Tattersall’s group of medals are: the rare Silver Edward Medal (marked Thomas Tattersall), a 1914/15 Star RFA ,a British War Medal and a Victory Medal W-5592 Gnr RA.
The guide price for the group is £7,000-8,000, and the sale, which takes place today, is accesible online.
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