1958 British Empire Medal (Civil) with Gallantry Emblem to C...

Hammer

£675

1958 British Empire Medal (Civil) with Gallantry Emblem to Charles Edward Osborne, extremely fine in Royal Mint case of issue. The award was announced in the London Gazette dated 27th May 1958 where he is listed as a Chipper and Scraper in Grimsby, 'The proprietor of a small general shop was sitting in the room at the rear of the shop when he heard his shop door bell ring and a moment later was confronted by a youth who pointed a pistol at him and threatened to shoot if he made a noise. The shopkeeper immediately grappled with the youth and endeavoured to wrench the pistol from him but was struck a violent blow to the head with the butt of the weapon. This was followed by more heavy blows on the head. Mr Osborne who lives next door heard cries for help and ran into the shop. He found the shopkeeper lying on a settee with blood pouring from wounds in his head. The youth was holding an air pistol which he pointed at Osborne and threatened to fire. Osborne, however, jumped at him and tried to take the weapon away but as he did so the youth fired the pistol. Osborne was not hit, a struggle ensued and both fell to the floor. The youth then took from his clothing a starting pistol which he fired within an inch or so of Osborne's left eye. The flash from this gun temporarily blinded Osborne but in spite of this he held on to the youth until the arrival of the police a few minutes later.' With copied LG. (See photo) (Y)