Collection Of Fireman B. Mansell – Lynmouth Flood Disaster 1953 – Bell Medals Etc.

A Collection of items belonging to Fireman B. Mansell Involved in the Lynmouth Flood Disaster of 1953.

Mr Bernard Mansell was an electrician in Sheffield Fire Brigade. Mr Mansell was awarded the defense medal for his service during the second World War and continued to serve with his Fire Brigade long enough to receive his 20 years long service medal. Both are included.

On the night of August 15th 1952 while on holiday in a cottage in Barbrook, Mr Mansell and his family got caught up in one of the worst flash floods in Somersets history. The Lynmouth floods were the biggest floods in the smallest area ever known in the country at the time. In just a few hours heavy rain and geographic location caused rivers to burst their banks and sweep through the villages causing devastation.

The family has been staying in a wooden cottage beside the river Barbrook when they woke to find the river bust and the cottage surrounded by the fast flowing river. After seeking refuge in a house on higher ground, Mr Mansell, his injured wife, their 18 year old daughter and her friend were rescued by a local farmer. The collection includes a newspaper clipping detailing the events of the night.

The collection includes:

The Chromed bell of Mr Mansell’s Fire engine by “Winkworth”

Mr Mansell’s National Fire Service cap badge.

Mr Mansells’s Drivers Licence.

A Boxed Defence medal awarded to Mr Mansell for his service during the Second World War.

A boxed, Long Service Medal awarded to Mr Mansell for his exemplary fire service.

A book “The Lynmouth Flood Disaster” by Eric.R.Delderfield, with full details and illustrations of the events of August 15th 1952.

A newspaper clipping detailing Mr. Mansell’s flood ordeal.

A collection of four family photographs including the original image taken by the Sheffield Telegraph and Starr dated 22 August 1952 used in the newspaper clipping above.

~ Dimensions ~

The bell stands at 6 inches (15cm) The mouth has a diameter of 6.5 inches (16.5cm).

The cap badge measures 2 inches (5cm) tall by 1.5 inches (4cm) wide.

The cloth bound drivers licence measures 4 inches (10cm) by 2.75 inches (7cm)

The defence medal box measures 3.5 inches (9cm) long by 2.5 inches (6.5cm) wide.

The Long service medal box measures 4 inches (10cm) by 2.5 inches (6.5cm)

The book is approximately 7 inches (18cm) by 5 inches (13cm) wide.

The clipping is 9.5 inches (24cm)long by 2 inches (5cm) wide.

Three of the photographs are approximately 4.5 inches (11cm) by 3 inches (8cm) The fourth is 3.25 inches (8cm) by 2.25 inches (6cm).

The lot weighs 2.10kg.

~ Condition ~

All the items are in a good state. The bell as retained its shine with only light wear to the inside. The cap badge is clean and undamaged with its pin. The medals are both clean and boxed with their original packaging and papers a little aged but intact. The book and cutting have yellowed with age but are clean and clear. The photographs have some small creases to the corners.