A fireman who died 90 years ago has received a posthumous commendation for bravery after his story was told in a book by freelance journalist Pat Nurse.

Pat’s book, Devils Let Loose, written in conjunction with Lincolnshire researcher Tony Gadd, tells the violent truth of the 1911 Lincolnshire riots, and celebrates the bravery of firefighter Alfred Clay who was killed in a factory fire during the riots.

The death of Mr Clay, who was 38, threw his family into poverty.

His widow was offered 12 shillings out of the police Boot Fund and the chance to put the children in a home. But instead her 14-year-old son left school and went to work on the railways to support his mum and three sisters.

But now the surviving members of his family will proudly receive a bravery commendation from the modern Fire and Police services.

Pat said: “The fireman’s story emerged when Tony Gadd was doing the research. We both thought that Alfred Clay was the only one who did his duty properly and he deserved recognition for it.

“We sent a letter and the original cuttings to the Fire and Rescue service. They approached the police and both organisations decided to award the joint commendation.

“The family is dead chuffed. They always knew their grandad had done something brave and died in a fire but they had no idea of the troubled times he lived in.”