Since its inception the James Gordon Bennett Medal has been the highest award of valor presented by the New York City Fire Department.

Endowed in 1869 the medal, designed by Messrs. Tiffany & Co. was to be struck in gold on an annual basis and awarded to the member of the department best entitled to the award.

In 1870 two medals were struck and presented for rescues made in that and the previous year. This annual awarding would continue uninterrupted until 2002. No department medals were presented that year due to the events of September 11, 2001.

In the early days of the paid department a very unusual occurrence took place when the Bennett Medal for the year 1872 was decided upon.

During the years previous several spectacular rescues had been made and the committee's choice would be a difficult one. For the year 1871 the first of two medals to be awarded was for the actions of Assistant Foreman Charles L. Kelly of Engine Co. 9 during a fire at Division and Forsyth Streets on Feb. 9th when he literally climbed the awnings and shutters of the adjacent building then broke through a top floor window of the fire building to rescue an unconscious family of three.

The second medal would award the heroics of Fireman Ambrose L. Austin of Engine Co. 3 when he responded to a blaze at 33 Bowery on April 24, 1871. Austin entered a heavily charged cellar and was able rescue a trapped woman from the flames while burning himself about the face and neck.

Under consideration for the year 1872 were Fireman Thomas Hutchinson for his rescue at 63 Baxter Street on December 20th when he pushed into extremely heavy smoke on the second floor and seeing he could continue no further made his way to the rear of the building were he exited onto the fire escape. As the smoke cleared for a brief moment Fireman Hutchinson saw a boy dangling precariously from the third-floor balcony above. Hutchinson was able to convince the boy to let go and caught him as he dropped through the heavy smoke from the floor above.

Another rescue under consideration occurred on February 15, 1872 at 23 Suffolk Street, a dwelling house.

A number of tenants were trapped on the second floor as fire units rolled in and ladders were immediately raised. Assistant Foreman Thomas Henry of Hook & Ladder 6 climbed a ladder and dove into the smoke charged room. Henry was able to search in the blinding smoke and locate the desperate family.

One by one, under dangerous conditions he hand out a woman and seven children to other firemen on the ladder. A third rescue was made on December 30th this one by William H. Nash the chief of the fourth battalion. Nash responded to 223 Division Street where he was informed children were trapped in a rear bedroom.

Without protection of as hoseline Nash made his way towards the rear room, which was quickly being cut-off by fire roaring from an adjacent open door. Nash dove through the fire and into the back room. Searching under extreme conditions the chief was able to locate both children and crawl back towards the fire.

For a second time, now with the children tucked under his arms, Nash dove through flames. Rolling to a stop, his precious cargo in arm, he crawled along a hallway with flames extending overhead. He burst onto the front stoop with the children cradled in his arms as their mother racing his side.

For his heroic actions Chief Nash was placed on the Roll of Merit.

So Medal Day 1873 became unique by department standards for several reasons.

First, for the first time the medals would be awarded during a ceremony in the auditorium of the Medical College of Bellevue Hospital on January 31, 1873. Awards that evening were being presented for meritorious acts in 1871 & 1872.

With two medals being awarded for 1871 and three for 1872 a total of five members would be receiving the Bennett Medals.

With a limited amount of money available in the endowment fund only four of the five medals could be struck in gold. The fifth medal would be made of bronze.

In true form Battalion Chief William Nash requested the other members be given the gold medals he would take the bronze medal. To the applause of the packed house each of the four firefighters came forward and received their award.

The last award of the night was to William Nash. The chief came forward to a thunderous ovation and was presented the only bronze Bennett Medal ever presented by the New York City Fire Department.

No stranger to heroic actions, the six-foot tall battalion chief who sported a large handlebar mustache, would become noted for his fearless rescues using ladders while a member of the FDNY.

Prior to his joining the fire department Nash had served with distinction in the Union Army during the Civil War.

As a member of the 1st United States Sharpshooters, a special unit that wore dark green uniforms (the camouflage of the day) and used high-powered target and Sharp's rifles, Nash was cited for heroism several times and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by wars end.

In 1868 Nash joined the FDNY and was appointed to Engine 7 on Chambers Street. In 1869 he became one of the first members of the department placed on the Roll of Merit for the rescue of five people from a fifth-floor window while perched on the top most rung of a ladder during a fire on East 14th Street.

He would be cited again in 1873 and 1874 for his rescue work.

The fearless chief would be killed in the line-of-duty during the exhibition of the Scott-Uda aerial ladder on September 14, 1875.

As the ladder was run up to its full extension several members climbed into position with Chief Nash on the top most fly of the wooden aerial ladder. Suddenly a loud crack echoed across the square as the device failed.

Six members of the department were thrown from the collapsing ladder onto the cobbles below. Three members: Fireman Philip J. Maus of Ladder 6, Fireman William Hughes of Engine 9 and Battalion Chief William H. Nash were killed.

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Thanks, Ira Hoffman