Orders, Decorations and Medals

Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, 2nd type, silver (Henry Holder 1857) ‘double dolphin’ suspension, good very fine £250-300

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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Collection

Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No.91.

S.F.M.R.B.S. Records:

‘Cartwright, John, RN, Admiralty Mail Agent.; Johnson, Alfred Henry, Third Mate; Dinnick, Henry; Stower, William; Hollison, Peter; Lane, James; Rose, Henry; Bird, John, and Holder, Henry.

Manned the lifeboat of the Peninsular and Orient Steam Company's ship Tagus and, at the risk of their lives proceeded to the rescue of the Emigrant ship Martin Luther, lying disabled in a gale of wind, with a very high sea, with only the foremast standing, rolling fearfully, after two and a half hours exposure, in which nearly all hands were nearly drowned by the staving of the boat, warps were got to her, and the vessel was preserved, and towed into Plymouth, having on board 498 passengers’.

The above were each awarded the Society’s Silver Medal.

The story of the rescue, told in The Illustrated London News of 2 May 1857, was reprinted in the L.S.A.R.S.J. No.57, p.42-44.