Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1842 (T. B. Christopher, Mate, H.M.S. Blonde) original straight bar suspension, minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £1000-1200

365 medals to the ship.

Lieutenant Christopher was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal as a result of the following recommendation submitted by Captain W. L. Castle of H.M.S. Pylades:

‘On the 8th of May 1837 when blowing a gale of wind with a tremendous sea running off Cape L’Agulhas, James Miles a seaman of H.M.S. Pylades fell from the mizen topsail-yard overboard, and in his descent fell across the chain span of the weather quarter davits which he broke. The life-buoy was let go and the ship wore round and stood towards the spot. But not seeing anything of him or the life-buoy and it having become dark, after half an hour I gave him over and wore the ship again. Suddenly however I thought I heard a voice borne along the gale, it was heard a second time and the ship hove to again. I hesitated as to the safety of sending a boat away with so heavy a sea running, but anxiety to save a drowning man prevailed over prudence and as Mr Christopher nobly volunteered to make the attempt I sanctioned it. Happily after half an hours search and exposed to the terrific sea he returned with the man who had undressed himself in the water and was swimming unhurt.’

Lieutenant Thomas Borradaile Christopher was born in 1812 and entered the Navy 21 May 1825 as a First Class Volunteer on board the Herald yacht in which ship he attended the Duke of Devonshire on the occasion of his splendid embassy to Russia in September 1826. Between June 1827 and May 1832 he served as a Midshipman in the Clio and Prince Regent, flag-ship of Rear Admiral William Parker on the Irish station at the Cape of Good Hope and in the Tagus. Having passed his examination he then proceeded to the West Indies as Mate of the Pearl, after which in 1835 he joined the Pylades an active anti-slaver on the coast of Africa and in November 1839 the Blonde on which ship he took part in the various operations connected with the campaign in China (Medal), where he was appointed Acting Lieutenant in June 1841, first serving aboard the Blenheim and then the Herald. He returned to England in April 1843 and was appointed to the Excellent, Captain Sir Thomas Hastings gunnery-ship at Portsmouth before returning to the East Indies aboard the Acorn. The 1871 Census lists him as living on the Isle of Man, as Commander, R.N. on Half Pay.

Lieutenant Christopher’s Royal Humane Society Medal was sold in D.N.W. 30 June 1998.