Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, 1st type silver cross, reverse inscribed, ‘Awarded to Charles H. L. Johnston in Recognition of a Conspicuous act of Bravery’, good very fine £300-400

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

Ex Dawson Collection; ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 46.

‘Charles Henry Lewis Johnston (age 33) and Theed Parbold Twining (age 16) rescued Samuel Berrett (age 19) and Benjamin Berrett (age 16) from drowning at Kartigi on 18th October 1903.

A small flat-bottomed boat with five occupants was seen drifting south from Moeraki lighthouse along the coast for about three miles when it swamped in the surf. Johnston, one of the occupants of the boat, rushed to the rescue and swam ashore with Samuel Berrett, having previously thrown an oar to Thomas Berrett. Johnston then returned to the scene of the accident and after diving twice he succeeded in rescuing Thomas Berrett in an exhausted condition.

Meanwhile, Twining who was also an occupant of the swamped boat, was swimming ashore with Benjamin Berrett on his back and Samuel Berrett holding on to Benjamin’s feet. Johnston then came to Twining’s assistance, taking Samuel Berrett off Twining’s hands. Ultimately, they all reached the shore in safety. None of the Berretts could swim’ (Ref. Royal Humane Society of New Zealand Case Nos. 126 & 127.