Royal National Lifeboat Institution, V.R., silver (Mr Michael Murphy Voted 4th May 1876) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, mounted for display, edge bruising, nearly very fine £600-£700

Michael Murphy served as Coxswain of the New Romney Lifeboat for 10 years, from 1868 until 1878, and at a meeting of the R.N.L.I.’s Committee of Management on 6 February 1879 he was awarded a pair of ‘Inscribed Binoculars’ in recognition of his years of service.

The official R.N.L.I. account of his service on 10 April 1876 is as follows:

‘Late in the evening of April 10th 1876, the Dutch schooner Tobina of Pekela, from Sunderland, dragged her anchors during a strong gale and was seen from the shore to strike on the Roar Bank, heel over and go down. The crew found refuge in the rigging, part of the masts being above water, as it was low-tide.

The lifeboat Dr. Hatton, stationed at New Romney, was launched with difficulty over the widely-extending soft sands and at 8.30pm, reached the wreck. Two of the crew had already perished after a futile attempt to escape in their own boat. The remainder, 5 in number, were rescued by the lifeboat. Aid arrived only just in time, as the flowing tide would soon have washed everyone from the rigging.’

It was at the meeting of the Committee of Management on 4 May 1876, that Michael Murphy was awarded a Silver Medal, ‘in acknowledgement of his long and general gallant services as Coxswain of the New Romney Lifeboat and particularly on the occasion of the rescue of 5 men from the wrecked schooner Tobina on April 10th 1876.’

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