Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (Successful), (Leslie East Lake, 13th June 1967) complete with ribbon buckle, extremely fine £35-45

The following detail is extracted from the case report: Kenneth Williams (39 years old) was bathing at low tide in the sea at Porthtowan, Truro Cornwall. Conditions were extremely dangerous and there was a strong rip current flowing away from the beach. Williams tried to swim away from the current and was carried out to sea. He became exhausted. Eastlake (13 years old) swam 150 yards out to Kenneth Williams and supported him. At this point two life guards went out to help with surf boards. On reaching the boy and man they saw Williams was in a state of panic shouting and waving his arms about., and that Eastlake was having a great deal of difficulty in keeping him above water. Eastlake himself the while remaining quite calm. The lifeguards managed to get Kenneth Williams onto a board and eventually got him safely back to shore. ‘The saved and the life guards were all loud in their praise of Eastlake.’