In response to an earlier post on the award of a bravery medal for a canal rescue (link), Alex Oliver contacted me to say his stepfather had the same medal. The Corporation of Glasgow Gallantry Medal. With the help of Barbara McLean at Glasgow City Archives I have been able to find the story.
All this happened on Friday 26th October 1973, and if you know the era you will remember how much industrial ‘unrest’ there was – and on this day the firemen of Glasgow had done on strike, with armed forces personnel deployed to deal with emergencies.
Workers from the rubber factory were meeting in Shuna Street when they saw smoke coming from a nearby property, 76 Ruchill Street:
Stopping to collect fire extinguishers and ladders, they ran to the property.
Two mothers were inside, with their young children. On the Second Floor, Kathleen McDonald, 29 was with her sons Robert, 3 and David, 2. On the Top Floor, Alice Matthews, 29, was with her children, James aged 4 and Alison 3.
With the ladders, James Reid was able to carry the Matthews children to safety, and Alice Matthews was able to climb down.
Downstairs, Victor Lansdowne and Sam Douglas had gone into the burning building and found Kathleen McDonald semi-conscious from the fumes. They were able to save her and her family.
The medal was subsequently awarded to
Samuel Douglas, aged 40, of Block 32, Flat 74, Fearnmore Road
Victor Lansdowne, aged 24, of 2 Invershin Drive
Peter McGuire, of 50 Esslemont Avenue, and
James Reid, aged 29 of 1751 Maryhill Road.
Here is the site today:
