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MY HERO - 1872

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Laurie

Laurie Report 31 Aug 2005 05:11

I have just had numerous pages of information on my gtgrandfather Joseph Henry Parks sent to me by fellow GR member. I am overwhelmed! To put it briefly. . . . . He rescued 7 people from a fire - they were on the roof of burning building - ladder was too short - he put the ladder on his shoulders - by the time the Fire escape arrived, they were safe the building was burnt. I will now look at the citation he received with the knowledge of why re received it. I always loved those kind eyes in the photos even though I never met him. Thanks to Deb - Your citation is on the way!!!! Laurie

Heather

Heather Report 31 Aug 2005 07:36

How lovely, you must feel proud.

Christine in Herts

Christine in Herts Report 31 Aug 2005 07:53

What a wonderful story. Yes. you must feel proud. Christine

Merry

Merry Report 31 Aug 2005 08:37

I don't know where your contact got their info, but did you know this incident also made the national press? There is a short article in The Times newspaper (25th June 1872) and then a second mention (9th July 1872) when he was presented with 50 gold sovereigns which had been collected from local people!! If you would like copies of these two pieces (they may, of course, have been copied from a local paper, so may be the same as what you already have - though the bit about putting the ladder on his shoulders isn't there) then let me have your email address by personal message and quote ''Joseph Parks 1872''. What a brave and enterprising man! Merry

Heather

Heather Report 31 Aug 2005 08:54

Blimey 50 gold sovereigns, that was a fortune then.

Merry

Merry Report 31 Aug 2005 09:47

Exactly what I though, Heather!! Merry

Laurie

Laurie Report 31 Aug 2005 11:04

Message on its way Merry . . . . Wow - I didn't know about the amount of money - we still have the bag it came in, I guess that would have been his new start money to come to Aust. He was an engineer planning the railway system through NSW when he came here. The smile has got wider on his photos today - I swear cheers Laurie