Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (R. Halfyard, A.B., H.M.S. Blake, 30th April 1903), claw tightened, very fine £180-220

R.H.S. Case No. 26448 - At 3.30 p.m. on the 30th April, 1893, an accident occured in New York Harbour which would have probably have resulted in the death of a boy of fourteen had it not been for the bravery of the seaman Robert Halfyard.

H.M.S. Blake was moored in the harbour when a boat capsized alongside the ship, and its occupants were thrown into the water. There was a strong tide running, between four and five knots, and there were numerous small steamers, all moving ahead in order to keep abreast of the Blake. The seaman Halfyard seeing the boy drowning, at once jumped overboard from the skid deck, a height of some thirty feet, swam to the lad and held him up for a time; but some other person, who had also been an occupant of the capsized boat, caught the man by the leg and pulled him under the surface, causing Halfyard to let go his hold of the boy; he, however, again swam to the boy’s assistance, dived and succeeded in saving him.

There was considerable danger incurred by the salvor from the paddle-wheels of the numerous tugs moving around the ship in a tideway.’

Robert Halfyard was born in Plymouth on 21 February 1866 and enlisted for the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 November 1881 based at Impregnable. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in February 1884 whilst on the Northumberland and Able Seaman in May 1887 when on the Swallow. He served on the Blake, February 1892-August 1894, during which time he performed the above daring rescue and was also several times in the cells, ending his service on the Blake with 15 months hard labour for some offence. Despite this setback, when on the Calypso he was advanced to Leading Seaman, in June 1897 and to Petty Officer 2nd Class in October the same year. Halfyard served on the Doris, December 1899-October 1900, and then on Monarch, October 1900-December 1902. He was promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class in July 1901. For his services in the Boer War when on the latter ship, he was awarded the Q.S.A. medal without clasp. Petty Officer Halfyard transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve in May 1906. He was recalled for war service on 2 August 1914. As a Petty Officer 1st Class he served on Amphitrite, August 1914-June 1915 and Vivid I, June 1915-March 1916. Then based on the depot ship Sabrina, he then served on the collier ‘Q-Ship’ Vala (Q.8), March 1916-August 1916. Further service followed on the Vivid I and Vivid III, being fortunate not to be on the Vala when she was sunk by the UB.54 on 21 August 1917. Halfyard was demobilised on 27 February 1919. Sold with copied service papers and other research.