Carnegie Hero Fund Trust Timeline

“Inspiration for the Hero Fund dates back to 23 July 1886 when William Hunter aged 17 years lost his life trying to rescue a boy from drowning in Townhill Loch. The following month Andrew Carnegie contributed money towards a monument to Hunter’s memory.

“The false heroes of barbarous man are those who can only boost of the destruction of their fellows. The true heroes of civillation are those who save or greatly serve them. Young Hunter was one of these and deserves an enduring monument”

Andrew Carnegie 1886 is inscribed on the monument.


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“An explosion at the Harwick Collieries on 25 January 1904, near Pittsburgh, killed 179 miners. Two more men died attempting to rescue survivors each leaving a widow and young children.

Carnegie was deeply moved by this tragedy and contributed $50,000 to the Public Relief Fund.

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“Andrew Carnegie set up the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in the USA on 15 April 1904.


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“The Carnegie Hero Fund Trust UK is set up on 21 September 1908. Following the success of the Hero Fund Commission USA, Andrew Carnegie expanded the concept to his native land. He wrote “I got an idea this morning in bed while listening to the organ. Why not extend the Hero Fund to my Native Land Britain & Ireland. Make the Dunfermline Trust take charge of it?”.

In a postscript, he wrote “I’m (sic) very happy over this revelation this morning”.

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“First meeting of the Trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund took place on 1 October 1908.

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“At a meeting of the Executive Committee on 23 October, Thomas Wright became the first person to be recognised by the Trust. 

He lost his life on 23 September 1908 in attempting to save a fellow workman who had been overcome by fumes in the Baxter Chemical Works, St Helens. Lancashire. He was awarded a medallion.

The Trust provided continuous financial assistance to his widow until her death in 1936.

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“Nurse Ethel Wharton became the first woman to be recognised by the Trust.

She was seriously injured as a result of a successful effort to save a child from a burning hotel in Aberavon on the 14 December 1908.

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“French Hero Fund is established.
It was dissolved in 2011.

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“German Hero Fund is established.
The fund operated until it was taken over by the Nazi regime in 1934. ”

“Hero Funds in Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Denmark are established and still operate today.

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“James William Slesser Marr became a “Carnegie Hero” at the age of 16 after he rescued a girl from drowning in Banff.

He later became one of two “Shackleton Scouts” who sailed with Shackleton on his 1921 Quest Expedition. James later published a book himself, Into the Frozen South.

James Marr (right) with Sir Ernest Shackleton (centre) and fellow Scout and Shackleton explorer, Norman Mooney (left)

Courtesy of The Scouts (UK) Heritage Collection

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“The Trust has on occasion donated money to Relief Funds set up following disasters. Two such donations were made in 1920 to the Levant Tin Mine and Minnie Pit Disaster Relief Funds.

The accident at Levant Tin Mine, Cornwall, on 20 October 1919 happened at 3pm just as the men were heading to the surface after their shift. A rod on the main engine broke sending it down the shaft, 31 men were killed and 16 others injured leaving 30 women widowed and 85 children unprovided for. The Trust recognised 36 men collectively for their heroic actions in the rescue attempt and donated £1,000 to the Relief Fund.

Similarly, The Trust donated to the Relief Fund set up after the Minnie Pit Disaster, Stoke on Trent on 12 January 1918. 55 men were killed following a huge explosion which tore apart two seams. Large sections of the pit collapsed, it took a year to recover all the bodies. For their heroism in the rescue attempts 31 men were recognised by the Trust. 73 women were widowed and 137 children left unprovided for.

The Trust has donated to many Relief Funds set up following disasters. Before the welfare state was set up payment from Relief Funds were the only source of income the widowed women had.

Image courtesy of Simon Jones - www.cornishmineimages.co.uk

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“The Trustees arranged for the presentation of 2 silver medallions granted by the Carnegie Foundation of France in recognition of heroism of British subjects on French Territory.

These were to the Rev. George Lamb of Melrose and the mother of the late Mr William B Jemmett of Kent. ”

“The first 392 pages containing 2393 names of the heroes recognised by the Trust were bound by Messrs F Sangorski and G Sutcliffe of London to make the first volume of the Roll of Honour. The leather used was a heavy native Nigerian goat skin and the metal work silver, which has been plated in gold with amethyst corner bosses. All subsequent volumes have been in the same leather but without the ornate decoration.

Volume 1 of the Roll of Honour is on permanent display in the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum.

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“To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Trust a small, illustrated brochure was published. ”

“The centenary of Andrew Carnegie’s birth was marked by sending all Hero Fund beneficiaries a special grant of 2 guineas and a card with a photograph of Andrew Carnegie.




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“Very soon after the outbreak of war a special grant of £2 was sent to all beneficiaries to acquire extra food supplies as recommended by the government and to conform to blackout lighting restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Home Security.

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“The Trust made a donation of £500 to the Valleyfield Disaster Relief Fund following an explosion in the number one shaft of the Valleyfield pit on 28 October 1939. This was one of the worst mining tragedies in Fife and left the close-knit community devastated. A total of 35 men lost their lives leaving 42 children fatherless.


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“Precautions were taken for the safety of the Roll of Honour which was on permanent display in the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. It was moved to a place of safety until the end of the war. ”

“On 1 July 1950 11 men were killed after they were overcome by fumes at the Consett Iron works.

Nine of these men died while attempting to rescue the other two. The Trust recognised the nine men.

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“Twelve men from the Fair Isle were recognised by the Trust for their heroic actions. On 2 May 1956 a man left his home in the early evening to help a ewe and her lamb who were trapped on the cliffs. While trying to reach them he fell 300 feet down the cliff and sustained severe injuries. When he did not return home the alarm was raised and 12 men went looking for him. They located him at 12 midnight. Their rescue attempt involved scaling cliffs that had never been scaled before. The rescuers were in constant danger from falling rocks in complete darkness apart from the light from a small tilley lamp and took four hours to complete.

The Trust awarded the Fair Isle a grant of £100 which was used to bring electricity to the island.
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“To commemorate the Jubilee Year of the Carnegie Hero Fund UK, a special grant of 2 guineas was given to all beneficiaries, the gift accompanied by a card, which included a brief outline about the formation of the Trust, and a photograph of the first page of the Roll of Honour.




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“The first meeting of all the Carnegie Hero Funds in the world was held in Belgium. It was part of the Jubilee Celebrations to mark 50 years since they were established. Representatives from the Hero Fund Trusts in North America, Denmark, France, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland all attended.

The delegates had the honour of being individually presented to Their Majesties King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians, who graciously attended an impressive ceremony during which awards were presented to any heroes and heroines recognised by the Belgium Trust.

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“First donation to the Trust was received. The South of England Social Circle, Alton Hampshire, a body of racing pigeon fanciers who contribute annually to various charities donated 20 guinneas. ”

“A Christmas gift of £10 was made to every beneficiary, plus a hamper to the value of £5.

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“It was agreed that where possible the Trustees be represented at presentation of awards in future by the Chair and the Secretary would attend every presentation.

Presentations then were carried out by local dignitaries in the Hero’s hometown with no representation by the Trust. ”

“The first calendar of Scottish scenes was sent to every beneficiary. This tradition continues to this day.”

“The certificate awarded to the Hero or their family was redesigned and took the form of a printed document signed by the Chair and Secretary of the Trust bound together with a citation in a handsome leather folder. ”

“To mark the 70th Anniversary of the Hero Fund a special reception was given by the Trustees in the Glen Pavilion in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline. Several beneficiaries who lived near were able to attend.


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“Each beneficiary was sent a copy of the newly reissued “My Own Story”, the short form of Andrew Carnegie’s autobiography. ”

“Due to the extremely cold weather, a special grant of £30 was sent to 125 families to help towards the cost of extra heating. ”

“Robert Campbell (87) of Plymouth presented the Trust with an early edition of “The Gospel of Wealth” a book written by Andrew Carnegie. Robert was recognised by the Trust in 1919 for his heroism when he at the age of 12 rescued another 12 year old boy from drowning in the Thames at Twickenham. So began his long association with Dunfermline and the Hero Fund Trust. Asked by a reporter why he had presented the book to the Trust Mr Campbell said “Because Carnegie is the root of my life. It will be in its rightful place”

Mrs J Spittal (Chair of Trust) with Robert Campbell

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“A tribute was made in the annual report to the Heroes who had died on 11 September at the World Trade Centre in New York.”

“The Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts moved into their new headquarters, Andrew Carnegie House, which they share with Carnegie United Kingdom Trust and the Carnegie Trust for Universities of Scotland.

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“This was the centenary year of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust. To mark the occasion a cut glass memento was sent to all the Hero Fund friends along with a leaflet charting the work of the Fund since being established in 1908.

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“The Trust was invited to take part in the unveiling of a memorial at Consett Iron Works, County Durham in honour of the men who lost their lives at the works. In particular, the ceremony acknowledged the eleven men who died during the disaster in 1950. Carnegie Hero Fund Trust recognised nine of these men who died attempting to rescue the other two.


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“The Trust dedicated a page in the Roll of Honour to those who lost their lives while carrying out medical or support duties throughout the pandemic which started in 2020.



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