Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Boatman E. O’Leary, H.M. Coast Guard, awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds for the attempted rescue of the Aeolus, off Littlestone, Kent, 11 November 1891

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Edmund O’Leary, Ch. Boatn. H.M. Coast Guard) officially re-impressed naming; Norway, Medal for Heroic Deeds, Oscar II, silver (Ed. O’Leary Comd. “Aeolus” 11th Nov. 91) engraved naming, good very fine (2) £250-300

Edmond O’Leary was born at Queenstown, Co. Cork on 1 September 1853. He volunteered for continuous Royal Navy service on 7 June 1869 and was rated as a Boy 2nd Class. By December 1874 he had attained the rating of Able Seaman. In 1879 he transferred to the Coast Guard and was based at Dungeness, Newhaven and various localities in the South of Ireland, being advanced to Command Boatman in February 1889, Chief Boatman in December 1893 and Chief Boatman in Command in November 1898.
Awarded the L.S. & G.C. in 1895, although this would seem to have been replaced during the early 1900’s. He was pensioned in 1908.

O’Leary was awarded the Norwegian Medal for Heroic Deeds in silver for his services on 11 November 1891. The Dungeness Lifeboat put to sea in hurricane force winds and high seas in an attempt to rescue the crew of the Swedish ship Aeolus.

Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox records: ‘Hurricane force winds were lashing the coast when the Swedish brigantine Aeolus was driven onto a sandbank off Littlestone, Kent. In spite of many attempts, it was not immediately possible to launch the Dungeness self-righting lifeboat R.A.O.B. in the difficult conditions. After sustained efforts with the rocket apparatus, a line was fired on board, but this broke. At the third attempt, the lifeboat was launched and was rowed to the wreck in terrifying conditions with Mr Lucas [Coxswain, Dungeness (Lydd) Lifeboat] in command. The force of the wind prevented the lifeboat coming alongside and she was blown a mile past when a heavy sea capsized her. Of the five crew thrown out, two were lost. After she made the shore, the lifeboat was pulled on to the beach by helpers. Survivors were taken from the wreck by the Littlestone Lifeboat (Sandal Magna) which also had great difficulties in launching.’

For this action, James Lucas was awarded the R.N.L.I. Medal in silver; the Medal for Heroic Deeds in Silver was awarded to the surviving members of the lifeboat crew including O’Leary. The medal was awarded by the Swedish/Norwegian Consul at Dover in May 1892.

With a quantity of copied research including service papers and a copied photograph of the R.A.O.B.