Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Royal Humane Society Medal awarded to Albert E. Sandell, for saving life at the ‘Albion Disaster’ of 21 June 1898

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Albert E. Sandell, 21 June 1898) with bronze buckle on ribbon, slight edge bruising, about very fine £180-220

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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The Canopus Class battleship Albion, designed to be of 12,950 tons when complete, was built by the Thames Iron Works & Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall, London. Laid down on 3 December 1896, she was to be named and launched on 21 June 1898 by the Duchess of York. As a major celebratory event, the launch attracted widespread attention, and with the yard workers and children from local schools given the day off, some 30,000 people crammed into the shipyard and the surrounding area to view the dignitaries in their finery and the majestic scene of a leviathan, a symbol of British sea power, slipping spectacularly into the river. The river sides were crowded and a holiday atmosphere prevailed. On a neighbouring slipway, the people positioned themselves on the unfinished Japanese battleship Shikishima and such was the demand for space, that some 150 people jostled on to a temporary and rather frail wooden bridge across a creek nearby, ignoring warning notices and the endeavours of police and officials to keep them clear.

Following on from a luncheon given by the chairman of the company, the Duke and Duchess of York with the dignitaries made their way to the launching stage. After naming the ship and three failed attempts to smash a bottle of champagne on the hull, the Duchess cut a cord so as to signal the release of the ship. With bands playing, ship’s whistles and horns blaring and the crowds cheering, the ship slipped into the Thames. In the noise and confusion of the event, what was not immediately realised was that the ship on plunging into the water had created a massive wave. In the confines of the river, the wave had engulfed and destroyed the bridge near the Shikishima, casting the onlookers into the surging water.

Spectators and yard workers nearby immediately began rescue efforts, some diving into the muddy and churning water to help the survivors. When news of the accident spread, the police, fire brigade and ambulance services all made their presence felt. Despite their best efforts 38 people were killed, of these most were women and children.

For their services in the disaster, 18 people were awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, one a R.H.S. Bronze Medal and Certificate and one each a R.H.S. Certificate and a R.H.S. Testimonial on Vellum. All the awards were covered by the general citation:

‘On the 21st June, 1898, while H.M.S. Albion was being launched from the yard of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company at Blackwall, a huge wave was raised which carried away a platform on which 150 persons had gathered to witness the launch. The depth of water was about 14 feet, and there was great risk of being struck by baulks of floating timber’

The citation specific to Sandell reads, ‘At the disaster on June 21st, 1898, under the same circumstances (to the above), Albert E. Sandell, dealer, Plumstead, at great risk, rescued seven persons’ (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 29,535).

See also The Disaster of the 21st June, by Andrew Litherland, L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 14, p. 32-35, and subsequent pages 35-52, being extracts of various reports on the disaster. Sold with copied research.