Mexborough and Swinton Times November 9, 1918

Gunner Fred Machin
Royal Field Artillery

Gunner Machin, 9, Hooton Road, Kilnhurst, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for coolness and courage displayed in the following circumstances:

“A fire had broken out close to the top of a teleferica in a kitchen used by the Italian soldiers running a ropeway.

In close primitive to the burning kitchen was a loading stage, on which was a stack of howitzer shells. Gunner Machin took two fire extinguishers, entered the burning hut, and succeeded in putting the fire out, at great risk to himself.”

Gunner Machin, who is aged 29, and a married man, has been serving in Italy 10 months.