Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 22, 1988
• Invested on: June 02, 1989

Awakened at dawn on July 14, 1987, by the sound of a car accident, John William Ginnish saw a car upside down and in flames across the road. He went to ask the neighbours to call for help, then ran to the burning vehicle and dragged one dazed victim a safe distance away. Unable to see any other victims and worried that the car would explode, he and several neighbours shovelled dirt and sprayed water on the flames. While he was spraying the far side of the vehicle Mr. Ginnish noticed another victim, his legs afire, lying almost hidden beneath it in the ditch. While he was extinguishing the flames on the man's legs, someone shouted that the car was about to explode. Mr. Ginnish backed away momentarily, then returned to attempt to pull the man to safety. He tried to move the victim but his feet seemed to be jammed in the car door. As the flames spread closer Mr. Ginnish made another attempt, managed to free the unconscious man and pulled him a safe distance from the vehicle which within moments was engulfed in flames.