Medal for defending child from murderer sold

Miss Townsend was the first of only four women to receive the Empire Gallantry Medal

A medal awarded to a woman who tried to protect a child from being killed by his father at a Devon hospital has been sold at auction.

In May 1932, Emma José Townsend was visiting a hospital in Kingsbridge.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, from London auctioneers Noonans, said she helped the boy who had been shot by his father. The man had earlier murdered the child's mother and two siblings, Mr Mellor-Hill said.

Miss Townsend was honoured with the Empire Gallantry Medal - also known as the George Cross - by King George V in 1933, which on Wednesday was sold to a German private collector of medals for £13,000.

Miss Townsend died aged 85 in March 1965

Mr Mellor-Hill, head of client liaison, said Miss Townsend was the first of only four women to receive the Empire Gallantry Medal.

He said Miss Townsend had been visiting her sister in the South Hams Cottage Hospital when she tried to help the nine-year-old boy.

"The father had already killed the mother and two other children," he said.

"Miss Townsend heard the boy shouting for help after his father had tried to shoot him with a gun and strike him.

"While she was trying to defend the boy, the father hit Miss Townsend with the gun and cut her head – resulting in the loss of a lot of blood.

"Sadly, the boy died two days later."

The medal was sold with a seven-page extract from ‘For Gallantry’ by Kenneth Hare-Scott which gives a full account of the incident.