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The young chambermaid was woken from her afternoon nap by the smell of smoke – and found herself trapped by a massive fire raging through the Royal Hotel.

Winnie Jones was on the majestic Cardiff hotel’s sixth floor but, to her horror, the fire ladders could only reach the fifth floor.

But luckily for Winnie a young labourer who had recently returned from fighting in World War I happened to be passing High Street on his way from work.

With no thought for his own safety, Walter Cleall rushed into the hotel and battled his way through the smoke to the sixth floor and into a room where he thought Winnie would be.

But she wasn’t there.

So in a moment of further heroism he climbed out of the window, crawled along a ledge to rescue the young chambermaid, then crawled back along the ledge to get her down. Just seconds later the roof in Winnie’s bedroom collapsed.

Hundreds of people below watched as the brave 22-year-old brought Winnie back down to safety.

One of those people watching was a London barrister who wrote a letter to the Home Secretary about the act of bravery he had witnessed, and Walter’s recommendation for a bravery award was fast-tracked.

He received the Albert Medal, the highest civilian award at the time.

Years later Walter was invited to Buckingham Palace where his Albert Medal was exchanged for the George Cross.

Yet he was said to be loath to part with it, having treasured his original medal.

And that well-worn original medal now belongs to the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

Walter’s story of bravery has been unearthed by Edward Besly, a medal expert at the museum, who is giving a behind the scenes talk about Welsh gallantry medals on Tuesday, April 23

During Edward’s research he found the original statements of Walter, who became a cabinet maker in the city before his death in April 1983, and those of Winnie.

Walter’s wonderfully understated statement says: “We got as far as the fifth floor and the smoke was very dense. When I got to the chambermaid she was in a very excited condition. I caught her around the waist as we left the room.”

Winnie’s statement simply ended: “Walter Creall got me. I can’t remember any more.”

For Edward it is just one of three fascinating stories he will be delving into.

“The back of the medal says that it is ‘For gallantry and saving life in Cardiff’ but it is so well worn that bits of it have worn off,” he says.

“For me it is not just about collecting the medals and the memorabilia, it is the stories that the medals and memorabilia lead you too. It is great too to be able to share these amazing stories of bravery.”

As part of the events programme at National Museum Cardiff, which has been voted among the best museum talks in the UK, there is a varied programme of tours and talks including lunchtime talks and behind the scenes tours of different departments such as biodiversity, archaeology, geology, art and the library. To find out more, click here.

The constable who prevented a gun rampage

It started out as a normal night on patrol just after Christmas 1943 for Glamorganshire Constabulary reserve constable Ben Aylott – but ended with him receiving a gallantry medal for his bravery.

It was nearing midnight on December 27 when the former World War I veteran was on duty in Pontarddulais and the constable saw a man leaving a dance hall who he knew was an absentee solider.

Ben Aylott stopped the man, who was known to be violent, and he admitted he was an absentee, so the constable arrested him and began walking towards the police station.

But as they neared a crowded pavement outside the dance hall, the solider suddenly swung round and pulled out a German automatic rifle from under his coat and started firing over the constable’s head.

He also fired a burst over the heads of people now running for safety.

Realising that if someone didn’t take action people would be killed, Constable Aylott dived beneath the rifle at the soldier’s knees, and tackled him to the ground.

After a struggle, other police officers arrived, took the weapon off the soldier and took him to the police station.

Constable Aylott’s son Terry has been working closelyff with the National Museum of Wales, recently donating his father’s King’s Police and Fire Service Medal that he received for his act of bravery, his war medals from the World War I and also his police badges.

The Welsh Battle of Britain hero

A short notice in a sale catalogue led Edward to uncover the log book of Welsh Battle of Britain pilot Glyn Griffiths.

The pilot’s medals were being put up for sale in 1990 which helped Edward track down his family.

The log book, in Glyn’s own handwriting, is a fascinating insight into the bombing missions he undertook, the colleagues he lost and some of the lighter moments, like a surprise fly past during a private’s wedding.

It even states from one of his superior’s that, “he is inclined to be over confident and needs a firm hand.”

After the war Sergeant Griffiths, who was originally from Llandudno, was awarded the honour of Distinctive Flying Medal, which is on display at the museum.

:: For Those in Peril: Civil Decorations and Lifesaving Awards at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales is a book on sale by Edward Besly