Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Sapper F. W. Youldon, Royal Engineers, a postman from Exeter who was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal for lifesaving on the river Exe

British War and Victory Medals (510272 Spr., R.E.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Frederick Willim Youldon); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (Fredk. W. Youlden, 8th Oct. 1913), note surname spelling, generally extremely fine (5) £140-160

Frederick William Youldon, a postman from Exeter, was awarded his Royal Humane Society bronze medal for an incident on the river Exe on 8 October 1913:

‘It appears that Henry Luffy and Frederick Youldon performed the rescue together. The man (Hockaday) attempted suicide by jumping into the river, the water being 25 feet below the bridge. Luffy jumped in after him and seized him but was drawn under and Youldon then went in from a landing stage and helped to support him till help arrived. 30 feet out, 9 feet deep. Dark night’ (Royal Humane Society letter refers).

A member of the Wessex Division Signal Company (Territorial Force) in the Great War, he was awarded his Imperial Service Medal for further service as a ‘Postman (Higher Grade)’ back in Exeter (London Gazette 1 November 1949 refers); sold with copied MIC entry confirming his entitlement to only the British War & Victory Medals.

Also sold with his original Royal Humane Society certificate of award, dated 11 November 1913, and printed retirement certificate from the Postmaster General, dated London, 1949, the former frayed at edges and in (damaged) scroll box.