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These few web pages kindly hosted by the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum include the most up to date news about the Friends of Lancaster City Museum.

Museum buys rare local bravery award at Spink Auction.

The excellent news is that the City Museum had the winning bid at the Spink Auction on Thursday 24th July and purchased the rare Edward Medal to Police Sergeant Thomas Coppard.  The medal was awarded to him for his gallant conduct on the occasion of a fire at the White Lund Munitions Factory, Morecambe in October 1917

Police Sergeant Thomas Coppard in 1918.

Lancaster City Museum purchased the medal with a hammer price of £2900, somewhat more than the top estimate of £1800!  With buyers premium the cost will be around £3500.  The Friends of Lancaster City Museum have made  grant to the museum and other donations have come which brings the total raised to £2500 - a further £1000 would preserve the museum's own acquisition fund.  If you can please donate in support the acquisition.

Two versions of the Edward Medal, introduced in 1907, were awarded for bravery in “Mines” and “Industry” – with each type having a Silver and Bronze version. Of the 188 Industry medals awarded, only 25 Silver awards were made between 1907 and 1949 – four of which for the explosion in Morecambe. The medal is rarer than the Victoria Cross!

The White Lund Munitions Explosion took place on the evening of the 1st October 1917, the cause was never established, but 10 men were killed, mainly those involved in the fighting of the fire. Whilst the explosion itself was felt as far away as Burnley, shrapnel travelled as far as Quernmore and Scotforth, and windows in both Morecambe and Lancaster were blown in.

Very little remains of the Munitions works today – but it is featured in the permanent displays of the City Museum.

White Lund Munitions Works.  Lancaster City Museum.

Four Silver Edward Medals were awarded for the White Lund explosion:

"As recently elected Chair of the Friends, I am pleased that my first official duty is to support this fund raising effort. The explosion of 1917 was a major event in the wartime history of our district and the opportunity to add the medal to our museum's collection relating to the event should not be missed."
Cllr J R Mace, Chairman

How you can help:

The Friends of Lancaster City Museum are assisting with the purchase, both with a grant and also by raising more money. Donations to the Friends in support of the purchase can benefit from Gift Aid which increases a donation made by tax payers by 25%.

Donations can be made by cheque to "Friends of Lancaster City Museum" and sent to FOLCM, Lancaster City Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT.

For more information please email: kingsownmuseum@iname.com
Thank you!

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If you would like to Gift Aid my payment/pledge to the Friends let us know in your email.

You will have to confirm you have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for the current tax year and previous three (6 April to 5 April), that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for the tax years. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given. Please notify the Friends if you want to cancel this declaration; change your name or home address; and/or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

Signature: ___________________ Date: _________________

Friends of Lancaster City Museum,
Lancaster City Museum,
Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT.
Telephone 01524 64637