Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Captain of the Quarter Deck John Bate, Royal Navy

Crimea 1854-56, no clasp; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Jn. Bate, Capt. Qr. Dk. Men, H.M.S. Cadmus, 21 Yrs.); Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (successful) (John Bate, A.B., H.M.S. Cambridge, vit ob serv. d.d. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 21 Feb. 1861) fitted with ring and straight bar suspension, mounted for wear, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £650-750

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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Ref. Spink Exhibition No. 11.

The following is an extract of a letter from Captain A. W. Jerningham, commanding H.M.S. Cambridge:

‘On the 21st February, 1861, in the middle of a fierce gale, and whilst trying to hoist a gig up to save it from swamping, Thomas Stevens, leading seaman, fell overboard. Such was the strength of the wind that all boats were unmanageable, and Thomas Stevens, who could swim very little, was about to sink, though oars and other articles were thrown within his reach. At the risk of his life, Samuel Ellis, second captain of the foretop, jumped from the troop boat astern, and by powerful swimming against wind and sea reached the drowning man, at the same time that John Bate slipped down by a rope from the quarter of the ship, and together they held him up until the gig was lowered and picked them all up under the stern of the ship. Had they been carried away from the immediate vicinity of the ship’s stern no efforts of ours could have saved him. Samuel Ellis was also instrumental in saving the life of William Osmond, of H.M.S. Cambridge who had accidentally fallen overboard into the Hamoaze, on the 4th September, 1862’. (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 16,622). Both Thomas Stevens and John Bate were awarded the R.H.S. Medal in silver. Sold with copied service details.