Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Royal Humane Society group of three awarded to Serjeant R. Newby, King’s Royal Rifles and Army Pay Corps, for specially distinguished services at the wreck of the Warren Hastings, 14 January 1897

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Natal, Transvaal (787 Corpl., A.P.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (787 Serjt., A.P.C.) claw tightened; Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Lce-Corpl. R. Newby, 1st Battn. King’s Royal Rifles, 14th Jan. 1897) with silver buckle on ribbon, mounted for wear, very fine (3) £400-500

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 1985, No. 16.

‘At 2.20 a.m. on the 14th January, 1897, the Royal Indian Marine troopship Warren Hastings, conveying troops from the Cape to Mauritius, was wrecked on the Island of Reunion.

The night was so intensely dark that it was impossible to distinguish anything more than a few feet away, and the rain was falling in torrents. The sea at the time was calm, with a moderate swell, the backwash being sufficient to prevent anyone landing without assistance. Perfect discipline was maintained, and the obedience, good order, and coolness displayed by the men was remarkable. Even when it was expected that the vessel would heel over, the men stood quietly aside to allow the women and children to be taken to shore. The total number of persons on board was 1,246, and all were safely landed with the exception of two natives, who were drowned in endeavouring to swim to land.

There were numerous acts of devotion and gallantry in saving life, and Lieut. Colonel M. Forestier-Walker, commanding the troops on board, named the above mentioned eighteen men as having specially distinguished themselves under the trying circumstances in which they were placed’.

The following was extracted from the P.R.O. file MT9.1267/M1000/1919:

‘Newby, R., 7291, Lance-Corporal, 1st Bn. King’s Royal Rifles, dived from the ship and assisted a man of the York and Lancaster Regiment (name unknown) to a rope by which he was got ashore’. (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 28,742; Acts of Gallantry, Vol. 2, 65-67).

The eighteen men awarded the R.H.S. Medal in silver were drawn from the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifles (11); 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment (4); Royal Artillery (1); Royal Indian Marine (2).

For an article on the wreck of the Warren Hastings, see also Public Record Office File MT9.1267/M1000/1919 or The Wreck of the Warren Hastings, by W. Fevyer, L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 9, p.25-77. Sold with a quantity of copied research and two copied photographs of the recipient in later life.