A rare 'Gallantry' B.E.M. awarded to Corporal J. M. Etherington, Royal Air Force, for his...

A rare ‘Gallantry’ B.E.M. awarded to Corporal J. M. Etherington, Royal Air Force, for his heroic attempts to rescue a group of six soldiers who had become victims of the current off Christmas Island, 31 August 1957. Despite not being a strong swimmer himself, Etherington made three attempts to rescue his comrades - on one occasion utilising the unorthodox method of knocking one of the soldiers out because, “He was fighting, so I had to knock him out before I took him back to shore” British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R., with gallantry emblem (4162419 A/Cpl. John M. Etherington. R.A.F.) good very fine £1,000-£1,400 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 14 March 1958: ‘On the evening of 31st August, 1957, four soldiers, when bathing off Christmas Island, were swept over the coral reef into the open sea. Corporal Etherington though he knew that the reef surrounding the island was very dangerous and that the sea beyond the reef was liable to be shark infested, unhesitatingly went to the rescue and succeeded in saving the lives of two of the soldiers.’ Only 21 B.E.M.s with emblems for gallantry awarded to the Royal Air Force, of which this was the second awarded. The following article that appeared in the Gateshead Echo gives additional detail: ‘A 21 year old Deckham boy was awarded the British Empire Medal by the Queen, at London last month, for outstanding heroism. He was John Etherington of 25 Deckham Terrace, son of Mrs E. Etherington. He has seven brothers and two sisters. John was presented with the medal at a full0dress parade by the Queen’s representative for the R.A.F., Air Marshal, Sir Douglas McVadden [Sic - should read Macfadyen]. John, who was serving with the Air Force on Christmas Island last summer, saved three soldiers from drowning on the coral reef off the island and helped to bring another three back to shore. It all happened when John, who had been on the island for some weeks, was watching a party of six soldiers, new to the island and the rules for bathing, swimming in the bay in the evening dusk. The ball they were throwing each other fell out of reach over the treacherous coral reef and one of them swam out over the reef to retrieve it. He soon fell in difficulties when the strong undercurrents caught hod of him, so that two of his pals went out for him, and when they, too, got into difficulties the other three went to their aid. Soon, John saw that all six were struggling in the water so without a thought for his own safety, dived in, fully clothed. John, who professes to be only a moderately good swimmer, swam the 500 yards out over the reef, but with the failing light and high waves, he couldn’t see any of the boys. Then there was a shout and John managed to grab someone. “He was fighting, so I had to knock him out before I took him back to shore,” John told the Gateshead Post. But as he was swimming back, something caught hold of his legs - it was another of the soldiers. He towed them both back. After receiving artificial respiration, John went straight back into the water and brought back another soldier. On his third venture out he was helped by two pals, but one who was wearing a life belt, got caught on the coral. Two of them brought back the remaining soldiers back safely to the beach. One soldier died later in the hospital. He was the last to be brought in after being in the water for half an hour. After the magnificent rescue, John just went to bed and never thought much more about it. “I didn’t realise how far I had swum, with it being dusk, until the next morning.” John said. John had an operation sometime previously and had been advised not to swim. Nothing else was said about the incident until early this year when John was informed he would be presented with the medal. The other two who had also gone to the rescue were awarded the Queen’s Commendation Certificate for bravery. John’s mother and 25 year old brother, William, were invited to London for the presentation and spent a few days there. With the medal was the following personal message from the Queen: “I greatly regret that I am unable to give you personally the award which you have so well earned. I now send my congratulations and my best wishes for your future happiness.” John, who is home on leave at Deckham just now, returns next week to do the last year of his service, after which he probably will return to his job as an air steward.’ Sold with named Buckingham Palace letter of congratulation; 6 official photographs from recipient’s investiture; and a newspaper cutting.