Auction Catalogue

30 March 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Download Images

Lot

№ 842

.

30 March 2011

Hammer Price:
£3,100

An unusual N.G.S. and Royal Humane Society pair awarded to Commander R. H. Bunbury, Royal Navy, who lost his right arm, so he said, “to feed the Turks, at Navarino”, at the age of only 13 years; he later emigrated to Australia where he became an accomplished artist

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Navarino (R. H. Bunbury, Volr. 1st Class); Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (Lieut. R. H. Bunbury R.N. 1836) both contained in a contemporary fitted case, the lid set with silver escutcheon inscribed with family crest and initials ‘R.H.B.’, extremely fine (2) £2500-3000

Richard Hanmer Bunbury was born in December 1813, fourth son of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Bunbury, K.C.B., late Under-Secretary of State for the War Department, by his first wife, Louisa Emilia, daughter of General Hon. Henry Fox. He entered the Navy on 23 January 1827, having just passed his thirteenth birthday, and served as a Volunteer of the First Class on board the Asia at the battle of Navarino. He was severely wounded in the action and had his right arm amputated at the elbow. He passed his examination in 1833 and, on 14 October the same year, was appointed to the Thunderer 84, Captain W. F. Wise, in the Mediterranean. Whilst in that ship he gallantly saved the life of a seaman who had fallen overboard. Captain Wise reported the circumstances of the rescue in his letter to the Admiral commanding in the Mediterranean and to the Royal Humane Society for their consideration:

‘Sir,
I have the satisfaction of calling your attention to an act of self-devotion in the cause of humanity, on the part of Lieutenant Richard H. Bunbury, of this ship. The evening before last [12 September 1835], just at dusk, he jumped overboard after a man who had fallen from the main yard, and was mainly instrumental in saving his life.

When I take into consideration that Lieutenant Bunbury has lost his right arm close to the elbow, and the state of the weather at the time, when, as you may remember, sir, the ships were under treble-reefed main, and close reefed fore and mizzen topsails, with much sea running, and the night fast closing in, I cannot find words to express the high sense I entertain of this heroic act.’

Lieutenant Bunbury was duly awarded the Honorary Silver Medallion in 1836 (Case No. 12,908).

Bunbury was appointed to the
Minden in March 1837, and to the Victory, as Acting Flag-Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Bouverie, in August 1837. In December of the same year he removed to the Princess Charlotte, bearing the flag in the Mediterranean of Hon. Sir Robert Stopford, and in the following year he was appointed to the Castor and the Asia on the same station. He was promoted to Commander on 10 May 1839, but did not again go afloat.

In 1838 he married Sarah Sconce and emigrated with her to Port Phillip, Australia. On arrival in March 1841 Bunbury was appointed superintendent of Water Police at Port Phillip and was later harbourmaster at Williamstown. He was a member of the Melbourne Club from 1844 and owned a station at Mount William named Barton Hall after his ancestral home. Having lost his right arm, so he said, “to feed the Turks, at Navarino”, he learned to paint with his left hand and many of his ink and watercolours are held in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Letters describing the battle of Navarino and other actions against the Turkish and Egyptian fleets, and the award certificate from the Royal Humane Society, are amongst a collection of letters and documents held by Princeton University Library, U.S.A. Bunbury returned to England in 1857 and died on 23 December of that year, aged 44.