Auction Catalogue

21 September 2001

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 606

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21 September 2001

Hammer Price:
£330

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, silver, G.IV.R., 1st type (Richard Pearce Esqr., Voted Octr. 30th 1851) fitted with silver loop and ring suspension, good very fine £300-350

Richard Pearce, Lloyd’s Agent, Penzance, Voted 30 October 1851.

‘For repeated services in saving life from shipwreck; Richard Pearce’s exact period of service is not given although he took part in rescues from 46 vessels in 30 years, always as the leader. A specific service in which he participated was that on 24 May 1828 to the Plymouth brig
Albion, laden with coal, which was driven on the beach to the east of Newlyn, Cornwall, during a heavy south-south-east gale. The brig was stern on to the beach, about a quarter of a mile out. When the sea made a breach over her and carried away her bulwarks, Mr Pearce brought the rocket apparatus to the scene together with his gig. Using the gig, he saved the brig’s Master and crew before the vessel broke up.’