Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, V.R., silver (Mr Edward Jones. Voted 6th January 1887) with Second Service clasp (Voted 14th March 1889) with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, claw tightened but slack, good very fine £700-800

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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Awarded to Edward Jones, Coxswain of the Holyhead Lifeboat.

R.N.L.I. Medal: ‘9 December 1886: In a very heavy sea and a northerly gale among breakers in the south-eastern part of Holyhead Bay, Anglesey, the Liverpool ship Pegasus, laden with timber, fired distress signals at 6.30 a.m. She had dragged her anchors and drifted ashore on Treath-y-Gribin. The Holyhead lifeboat Thomas Fielden put out under tow by the tug Challenger, but soon had to be cast off. With the seas making a clean breach over the wreck, Coxswain Jones managed to position the lifeboat under her quarter deck and took off the 20 crewmen and the Pilot. After landing them, the lifeboat piloted a schooner Jane Anwyl to safety’ (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox).

Second Service clasp: ‘9 February 1889: After the Halifax, Nova Scotia barque Glen Grant, from Pensacola, Florida, parted from her cable in a gale while anchored in the New Harbour, Holyhead, Anglesey, she was seen among rocks off Penrhos. Her 13 man crew was taken off by a line put aboard by rocket apparatus. The Holyhead lifeboat helped at the scene’ (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry). For their services during this rescue and ‘in recognition of their gallant services in the Life-boat, extending over many years’, Edward Jones, Coxswain of the Holyhead Lifeboat, was awarded a clasp to his medal and Robert Jones, Assistant Coxswain of the Holyhead Lifeboat, was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal.

Sold with copied extracts from The Lifeboat.