Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful), (Henry Ward Cunningham, 2nd February 1880) suspension a little slack, nearly extremely fine £260-300

‘On the 2nd February 1880 - at Lake Shearwater in Wilts - Adam C. Laughlin, a student of St. Boniface College, broke through the ice whilst skating, becoming immersed in ten feet of water, fifteen yards from the bank. Mr Henry Ward Cunningham skated up to the place, and, without any hesitation, jumped in (encumbered as he was with clothes and skates on), and succeeded in rescuing the other gentleman from under the ice. The Silver Medal was unanimously voted to Henry Ward Cunningham.’ (R.H.S. Case No. 20,830).

Henry Ward Cunningham, aged 17 years at the time of the rescue, was a Missionary Student at St. Boniface College, Warminster, Wiltshire. Adam C. Laughlin, also 17, was a Student for Holy Orders at the same college.

With copied extracts from the R.H.S. Committee Meeting, 17 February 1880 and citation.