Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Stanhope Gold Medal pair awarded to Ernest Hill for rescuing a shipmate who was tangled in nets, off Patsey Fjiord, Iceland

Royal Humane Society, Stanhope Gold Medal for 1937, 2nd issue (Ernest Hill, 8th Nov. 1936) 18ct. gold, hallmarks for Birmingham 1937, with gold buckle on ribbon; Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Ernest Hill, 8th Nov. 1936) hallmarks for Birmingham 1936, with silver buckle on ribbon, nearly extremely fine (2) £2000-2400

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 Dawson Collection; ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 1.

‘Ernest Hill of Fleetwood saved Harold Daniels, aged 18, 11 p.m., off Patsey Fjiord, Iceland.

The steam trawler Northern Spiney was shooting her trawl when Daniel’s foot caught. He was dragged over and swept astern. The rescue took 15 to 20 minutes in a confused sea and swell in 40 fathoms of water. Hill dived overboard in full fishing kit and sea boots and swam back and found Daniels entangled in the trawl. Supporting Davies they were hauled alongside and with difficulty pulled aboard’ (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 53,819). For his gallantry Ernest Hill was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in Silver and was the recipient of the Royal Humane Society’s Stanhope Gold Medal for 1937.

Ernest Hill was involved in a further incident on 4 July 1964, when employed as a Labourer, then aged 56 years, when he rescued Bernard Joseph Hall, an Electrical Labourer, aged 52 years.

‘Hall felt tired, sat on the pier wall whilst watching unloading of shipping and became drowsy. He apparently dozed off and fell over backwards into the harbour. Hill who was standing near, jumped down 15 to 20 feet into the water. There was blood on the side of Hall’s head and he was semi-conscious. Hall was a heavily built man. Hill got him to the quayside and tried to hold on by clasping seaweed, which kept breaking away. Eventually a rowing boat came alongside and the two men in it helped get Hall and Hill aboard. ...’ (Ref. R.H.S. Case No. 69,646). For his services Hill was presented with a parchment certificate. At the time of this rescue he was living at 41 Bathurst Street, Porter Hill, Kingston-upon-Hull. Sold with some copied research.