Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Mr Thomas W. Shortland, Midsmn. R.N., 17 May 1877) light pitting due to fire damage, very fine £120-160

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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‘A boat was under sail from the Pallas, at Salonika Bay, on the 17th May, 1877, when she capsized, all her crew being thrown in the water. They got on the bottom of the boat, except for W. Nicholls, O.S., who was about two boat lengths’ to windward, in a drowning state, when Mr T. W. Shortland, midshipman, seeing his danger, swam to his rescue, and endeavoured to bring him to the boat. The drowning man struggled with him, and in sinking grasped him by the legs. Becoming exhausted, Mr Shortland called for assistance, when W. H. Ford, O.S., came to his aid. On reaching the spot he found that Nicholls had sunk, upon which he dived, and, bringing him up by the hair, swam with him to the boat. Mr Shortland, though much exhausted, assisting to the best of his power’ (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 20, 121; Acts of Gallantry, Vol.2, by W. H. Fevyer, p. 21). Both Shortland and Ford were awarded the R.H.S. Medal in silver.