Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (Lieut. Chas. Autridge, R.N. Voted 25 Jan. 1832) pierced with double ring suspension, slight edge bruising, good very fine £400-500

‘Read letters from J. Dombrain Esq, Dublin and from Captn. Macnamara & Lieut. Autridge of the Coast Guard Station at Doonbeg, near Kilrush (Co. Clare, Ireland) detailing particulars of the praiseworthy and intrepid conduct of Lieut. Autridge and 5 of his men in saving 9 persons from the Brig “Cyclops” of Whitehaven on the 21st December which vessel was discovered at daylight with her foremast & bowsprit gone, apparently waterlogged and in great distress, the crew being in the main rigging. The wind blowing strong from the westward with a heavy sea running, Lieut. Autridge launched his gig, taking with him 5 men, and after pulling 3 hours succeeded in reaching the vessel which he found a complete wreck, and the sea making a complete breach over her.

After watching for a lull and making three attempts he succeeded in getting alongside and taking out the crew, some of whom were obliged to be assisted into the boat by his own men. He got them all aboard into the bottom of the boat, consisting of 9 persons, the Mate, six men and two boys, and brought them to the Station. The Master had been washed overboard and the Carpenter had died in the rigging. The people were in a very exhausted state, and could not walk from the landing place to the Station without support, their legs & feet being much swollen. He distributed them to the different houses of the Coast Guardmen and took the Mate to his own house, having strictly forbidden them to take any kind of spirits, and ordered them to be supplied with tea, broth and gruel - and sent to Kilrush for a Surgeon to ascertain their wants.

Ordered: That the Silver Medal be presented to Lieut. Autridge and Five Pounds to disburse any expenses he was subject to on behalf of the Mate and that an award of Ten Pounds be made to the 5 Coast Guardmen, to be equally distributed among them for service and for any expenses they may have been subjected to on behalf of the crew ...’

Charles Autridge entered the Royal Navy on 30 June 1803 as a 1st Class Volunteer on Poulette. He afterwards served as a Midshipman and Master’s Mate in Astrea and Leonidas until November 1811, serving the former at the siege of Copenhagen in September 1807. Commissioned a Lieutenant in February 1815, he was posted to the Coast Blockade as Supernumerary Lieutenant to Ramillies in October 1828. From 1831 he served with the Coast Guard and in September 1837 he was placed in command of the revenue cutter Skylark and thence in 1841 in command of the steam packet Pigmy.

With copied extract from R.N.L.I. records and copied service details.