Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Philip J. W. Reynolds, A.B., 26th Dec. 1916), with silver buckle on ‘Silver Medal 1921’ type ribbon, in damaged Warrington, London case of issue, good fine £160-200

Awarded to Able Seaman Philip J. W. Reynolds, R.N., H.M.S. Paris, for saving the life of James Allen, aged 30 years, at Sheerness Harbour, 26 December 1916. At 6 p.m. on a dark night, Allen, in trying to board his ship from the launch, fell in and was carried 200 yards astern on a strong tide. Reynolds jumped in and although twice pulled under kept Allen up until a boat picked them both up. Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 43,120.

Philip John William Reynolds was born at Woolwich, Kent, on 29 October 1893. A Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 3 January 1910. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class in October 1910 when on Impregnable and promoted to Ordinary Seaman in October 1911 and Able Seaman in November 1912, when on the Agamemnon. With the start of the Great War he was serving on the predreadnaught battleship Lord Nelson, July-October 1914 and later served on the cruiser Yarmouth, December 1914-October 1915. He was based at Paris (Plymouth Base), February 1916-March 1917, during which time he made the rescue at Sheerness for which he was awarded the R.H.S. Silver Medal. He attained the rank of Leading Seaman when at Pembroke I in October 1922 and was discharged on 30 October 1923. Sold with copied service paper and extract from R.H.S. records.