Beschreibung:

British Empire Medal. The BEM to Constable Edmundo Da Silva, Hong Kong Police Force, who dug through fallen debris of a bomb-damaged house to rescue four people, British Empire Medal, GVIR, Civil issue (Edmundo Da Silva), good very fine with an original letter from Fire Brigade Headquarters, Hong Kong dated 29 March 1952 in which Chief Officer W.J. Gorman describes his appreciation of the way da Silva carried out his duties during the civil disturbance in Kowloon on 1 March 1952 also a letter from Government House, Hong Kong dated 11 December 1947 inviting da Silva to Government House to receive his British Empire Medal (Qty: 1) Provenance: Jim Bullock (1930-2019), Romsey. BEM London Gazette 25 March 1947 'The upper floors of a bomb-damaged house in Hong Kong, collapsed, and four persons were trapped in the kitchen of the ground floor, which was also in imminent danger of collapse because of the fall of cross beams and upper floor debris to reach the persons trapped and after working for more than half an hour managed to extract them. Had a further fall occurred during this attempt the Constables would have sustained serious, if not fatal injuries. By their rapid and gallant action, Malig and Sila were responsible for saving the lives of the persons they extracted.' 1 March 1952 - Communist-led riots in Kowloon quelled Rioting broke out at 5pm on 1 March 1952 in the colony of Kowloon, crowds estimated at over 10,000 gathered to welcome a Communist "comfort mission" which was expected to arrive from Hong Kong. The police broke up the rioters with tear-gas grenades and projectile shells 45 minutes later.