The National Tramway Museum has recently found out about a tram conductress who was awarded a medal for her act of bravery during the First World War.

The museum has a large significant collection of archive material about the history of tramways, but very little involving staff records. Last year the museum was contacted by a lady called Melissa Davies who had visited the Museum and wanted to provide it with some information about her Great Grandmother who was a Conductress during the First World War was involved in an act of bravery.

Melissa’s Great Grandmother was Gertrude Slim who was employed by The British Electric Traction Company (BET) and was awarded a medal by in 1917 “For presence of mind displayed in the execution of her duty, Canal Bridge and Blackheath, March 3rd 1917.

Gertrude’s story featured in a newspaper article of the time that describes her being presented with her medal at the Hart’s Hill tramway depot. Present at the award were the General Manager of the Birmingham and Midland Tramway Company, Mr W G Bond, and the Traffic Superintendent for the Dudley & Stourbridge Tramway Company.

There was also a brief article about the incident involving Gertrude in the Electric Railway and Tramway Journal in 1917 under the heading “Women and Tramway Work”. Although it doesn’t mention Gertrude by name, it describes the incident as follows: “A medal is to be presented to the conductress of a runaway tramcar at Blackheath, Staffordshire. The brakes at the front would not act, and the car commenced to run backwards down a steep hill. By her promptly applying the brake at the rear the car was stopped and a serious accident averted”.

The British Electric Traction company was involved in the electrification of tramways in British towns and cities, eventually becoming the largest of the private owners of tramways in the country, gaining control over many tramway companies including several in the Birmingham area and the Black Country. More details about the history of these tramway companies together with photographs of their staff can be found on the Tramway Badges and Buttons website here.

Gertrude died in 1937 aged 44, leaving a husband Bert and three children – George, Bert and Beryl Slim.
The museum is always interested to hear from anyone who has personal stories or connections to Britain’s tramway history, and can be contacted at https://www.tramway.co.uk/contact/contact-us/.