Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Glasgow Bravery Medal and Royal Humane Society Testimonial pair awarded to James Grieve Smith

Corporation of Glasgow Bravery Medal, 2nd type, silver (James G. Smith, 1950) hallmarks for Birmingham 1947, with silver brooch bar, in Cuthbert, Glasgow case; Royal Humane Society Honorary Testimonial, dated 13 September 1949, inscribed, ‘That James Grieve Smith is justly entitled to the Honorary Testimonial of this Society inscribed on Vellum, which is hereby awarded him for having on the 26th July 1949 gone to the rescue of a boy who was in imminent danger of drowning in Horns Pool at Slitting Mill, Rugeley, Staffordshire, and whose life he gallantly saved, thereafter assisting to restore him to consciousness.’, document in excellent condition; medal extremely fine £140-180

James Grieve Smith was born in the Gorbals, Glasgow on 7 December 1925. Leaving school at 14 he was initially employed as an Errand Boy before securing an apprenticeship to train as an Engineer. His apprenticeship was interrupted in 1943 when he reached the age of 18 and was eligible for service in the armed forces. He served for the remainder of the war with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. After the war he resumed his apprenticeship and continued to work as a qualified Engineer until his retirement in 1990. Smith died in 2010.

On 26 July 1949 James Grieve Smith, of 38 Greenside Street, Millerston, Glasgow, and John Robertson Waddell, of 57 Greenside Crescent, Millerston, Glasgow, rescued an 11 year-old boy, Ronald Cyril Geoffrey Fielding, of 10 Jubilee Street, Rugeley, Staffordshire, when he got into difficulties whilst bathing in Horns Pool, Slitting Mill, Rugeley. Smith and Waddell were near the pool and saw the boy disappear under the water. Smith dived in several times and eventually brought him unconscious back to land. Together the men applied artificial respiration for half an hour before the boy was restored to consciousness. He was then taken to hospital where he made a full recovery. Both Smith and Waddell were awarded the R.H.S. Testimonial for their services - these being presented by the Chief Constable of Glasgow.

The R.H.S. Testimonial in original (damaged and repaired) envelope, addressed to ‘The Chief Constable, Police Headquarters, 21, St. Andrews Street, Glasgow, C.1’; a photograph of the recipient as a rating in the Royal Navy; two newspaper clipping re. the rescue and award of the R.H.S. Testimonial; and typed biographical details of the recipient.