Lot 4246

Description

Group of Four: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Meritorious Service medal (GVR) - Gallantry. 2828 Pte A.E.Guyatt 14 Bn A.I.F. on first, second and third medals, 2828 Pte A.E.Guyatt 4/Aust:Div:Salv:Coy on fourth medal. All medals impressed. Very fine and a rare gallantry M.S.M. group.

Pte Arthur Ernest Guyatt. Enl.05Jul1915. MSM for Gallantry.: LG. 26May1917, CG. 11Oct1917. 'On the afternoon of 6th April 1917 Private Fahy, who was one of the party engaged on salvage operations at Quarry was seen by the others to throw up his arms and disappear in the ground. On running over, Privates Catherwood and Guyatt found that Fahy had broken through a thin crust of ground into a hole about 12 feet deep. He called out to them that he was being gassed. A rope was hastily brought out but by this time Fahy was unconscious not having been able to put on the respirator that was thrown down to him. Private Catherwood, fastening a wire around his chest, went down, but before he could get the rope around Fahy he himself was overcome and had to be hauled up. Private Fahy died without recovering consciousness, although he was taken at once to the Field Ambulance close by and oxygen administered. The Doctor's certificate put death down as due to mine gas poisoning. Private Catherwood was off duty for two days from the effects of the gas and Private Guyatt was also affected and unfit for duty the following day. The gas helmets and respirators afford no protection against mine gas. The danger of rescue work was made greater owing to the peculiar shape of the hole, the top and sides of which were liable to fall in at any time and bury those in the bottom'. With research.