Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 17, 2011
• Invested on: February 24, 2012

William Edward Lance Matthews, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On March 16, 2009, Lance Matthews rescued an elderly woman from a burning house, in Mulmer Township, Ontario. When Mr. Matthews noticed smoke coming from a neighbour's house, he called 911 and drove to the scene. Upon arrival, he saw the raging fire and broke down the locked door with a tool to gain access inside. Through the thick, black smoke, he found the unconscious woman halfway up the stairs. He picked up her up and carried the badly burned victim a safe distance from the house. He then tried to re-enter the house to rescue the woman's disabled husband, but was unable to do so because of the blaze. Sadly, neither victim survived.