Orders, Decorations and Medals

‘Today’ Gallantry Fund Medal, silver (George Absolom, July 1895) complete with brooch bar, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine £300-350

Ex Denham Collection, 1971.

To-Day, 24 August 1895, p.3: ‘Last month he rescued a girl from drowning in the Holy Brook, near Fobney. At the time the brook was being drawn, and, in consequence, the rush of water was very great. There is no doubt that the child would have been drowned but for Absolom’s prompt action. This is Absolom’s fifth rescue. A medal will be forwarded as soon as possible’.

Reading Observer, 20 July 1895: - ‘A PLUCKY BOY - The plucky conduct of a lad named George Absolom, son of Mr Charles Absolom, a chimney sweep, of Coley, is certainly deserving of some recognition from the Royal Humane Society. Last week the Holybrook was being drawn, and consequently the water rushed at a great rate through the tumbling bay near Fobney. A little girl was looking into the water and accidentally fell into the stream, and must have been drowned but for young Absolom, who divested himself of most of his clothes, plunged into the water and held the girl up till some of the men at Messrs. Poulton’s Kiln came to the rescue. This is the fifth life that the lad, who is only fourteen years of age, has saved from drowning.’

Absolom was also awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum for a slightly earlier rescue, ‘G.H. Absolom, at great personal risk, rescued Mabel Lewis from drowning in the Kennet, near Reading, on the 15th July, 1895’ (Ref: R.H.S. Case No. 27,847).

The Gallantry Fund Award was issued by a general interest magazine entitled Today, published from 1893 to 1905. The editor of Today for the period 1893-97 was Jerome K. Jerome, author of Three Men in a Boat and other popular titles. The medal, in silver and in bronze was introduced in 1894. A total of 30 appear to have been awarded. See ‘The Today Gallantry Fund Medal’, L.S.A.R.S. Journal 20, p. 42-59. With copied research.