Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Brevet Major William Jenny Pengelly, Royal Marines

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed; Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (successful) (Captn. W. J. Pengelly, R.M., H.M.S. Colossus, vit ob serv. d.d. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 1st July 1855) fitted with a ring suspension, first with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine; second with edge bruising, good very fine (2) £340-380

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ex Edrington Collection 1980.

‘On the 1st of July 1855, at Barro Sound, in the Baltic, Mr Hardy M’Hardy, naval cadet of H.M.S. Colossus, accidently fell overboard from the mizen rigging, and sank, but on his returning to the surface, Captain Pengelly, of the Royal Marines, who had taken off his coat, and awaited, in the after part of the main chains, his rising, jumped in two or three yards within reach of the drowning boy, and being joined by Mr E. N. B. Portman, a midshipman of the same vessel, who had likewise jumped overboard, they both supported him until a boat was lowered to their assistance and rescued them all. Had it not been for the praiseworthy conduct of these two officers, the boy must have sunk before the boat reached him, as he was, from his heavy wet clothes and great exhaustion, unable to swim to the life-buoy’. (Ref. Acts of Gallantry, p. 205). Both Pengelly and Portman were awarded the R.H.S. Medal in silver.

William Jenny Pengelly was born in Truro, Cornwall. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 19 June 1838, aged 16 years. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in June 1842, Captain in January 1852 and Brevet Major in 1859. He retired on full pay on 15 November 1859 and died on 13 November 1892. Sold with copied service paper.