Coronation 1902. Bronze issue. London County Council Metropolitan Fire Brigade reverse (John T. Treadgold)

Note: Only an estimated 1000 x 'Bronze' medals awarded to the London County Council Municipal Fire Brigade

A magnificent, attributed portrait photograph of the recipient can be seen on the Ancestry Genealogical website

Medals verification: There are no commemorative medal rolls for the London Fire Brigade in the public domain, but from the aforesaid photograph, and knion Naval medal rolls we have bene able to identify 5 of the 6 medals that the recipient received and wore viz:


- 1897 Jubilee Medal: London County Council Metropolitan Fire Brigade reverse
- 1902 Jubilee Medal: London County Council Metropolitan Fire Brigade reverse Westminster Gazette issue of
- 1911 Coronation Medal: London County Council Metropolitan Fire Brigade reverse
- Egypt & Sudan Medal with clasp 'Suakin 1885': Ref ADM 171/43, H.M.S. Condor
- Egypt: Khedival Star

The recipient's 6th medal that he wears in the photograph on the right breast is likely a Fire Brigade 'Proficiency' / Prize Medal

The recipient's extant Naval Service Sheet held and accessible at The National Archives, shows that John Thomas Treadgold, claimed to have been a native of Camberwell, Surry, England, where he was born on, 23 August 1865. At the time of his joining the Royal Navy on, 13 May 1881, he was just 15 years of age, and rated as Boy II Class. During his service with the Royal Navy, John's conduct was consistently returned as 'Very Good'. He served on numerous warships, including active service in the Red Sea aboard H.M.S. Condor in 1884-85 (medal with clasp & Khedival Star). John took his final discharge form the Royal Navy on, 22 August 1893. On return to civilian life, John, like many former Royal Navy 'Matelots' took up an appointment with the London County Council Fire Brigade, as a 'Fireman'. He married Irish-born Mary Jane Beatham, in London on, 29 November 1898, at, Kensington, London, England. By the time of the compilation of the 1901 National Census for England & Wales, John is recorded living with his wife at the L.C.C. Fire Station, located at Willow Walk, Kentish Town, London, at which time he claimed to be a native of Redditch, Worcestershire, England. Life as a Fireman was not, of course, without frequent life-threatening hazards. The Westminster Gazette issue of contained the below article:

Quote,

FIRE SCENES IN CLERKENWELL

A fire which was attended with exciting incidents broke out last night at, 65, 67, and 69, Exmouth-street, Clerkenwell, on the premises of Mr. W. C. A. Bettinson, draper. One of the front shops became involved through catching at a gas-light, and the flames made extraordinarily rapid progress. The Rosebery-avenue Firemen found such a fierce fire in progress that a "district call" was signalled, and engines and long ladders from all parts of Central London were brought up to the scene. The flames blazed across to the roofs of some coffee-rooms in Tysoe-street, and for a time several sets of business premises were in serious jeopardy. Mr. Alfred Bettinson was badly burned in the early stages of the fire, and was partly suffocated, the firemen rescuing him and afterwards utilising their "first aid" remedies. While the fire was at its height a fireman named Treadgold, belonging to the Clerkenwell station, slipped off the second-floor ladder, but in falling grasped another ladder, and so saved him from a terrible fall. He, was injured by the strain on his wrist and by shock to the system, and after treatment at St. Bartholemew's Hospital was removed to his station. The fire was not overcome until the building was badly damaged

Unquote.

Note: The Fireman mentioned above John Thomas Treadgold, had re-located to the L.C.C. Fire Station at Clerkenwell, by 1904

John Thomas Treadgold is recorded to have died at West Ham, London, England, sometime during the last quarter of, 1922

Sold with hard-copy photocopied photograph of the recipient in full uniform, with medals up, wearing his Merryweather' pattern helmet, and with a service issue 'Fire-Axe', suspended from his wide leather waist belt

Condition: VF

Code: 22983