E.M. London Gazette 11.5.1910 'A terrible fire occurred in the Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, at a point about 4,500 yards from the shafts. Various rescue parties, with great courage and self-devotion and at considerable risk, descended the mine and endeavoured to extinguish the fire and penetrate to the persons in the workings beyond. Thorne and Littlewood, fitted with breathing apparatus, reached within a distance of 150 yards of the fire, but were driven back by the great heat and effusion of gases. The others got to within about 300 yards of it, working in thick smoke. It was found impossible to penetrate to where the fire was or to rescue any of the entombed miners. Had an explosion occurred - a by no means unlikely eventuality, seeing that the mine is a very gassy one - they would undoubtedly all have been killed. Special gallantry was shown by John Henry Thorne and James Littlewood, to whom the Edward Medals of the First Class were awarded'.

Two silver and 63 bronze Edward Medals were awarded for the Whitehaven Pit Fire.