Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 3rd type, silver, reverse inscribed ‘Presented to Arthur Turton for his manful attempt to save life at Eastbourne, on the 24th. November 1886.’, with integral top silver riband buckle, minor edge nicks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £400-500

Arthur Turton, a 31 year old rent collector from Eastbourne, Sussex, was awarded the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire’s Silver Medal, together with a gratuity of three Guineas, for attempting to save the life of a small girl at Eastbourne on 24 November 1886 (Case no. 14,139).

‘A fire broke out in a range of shops in Eastbourne shortly after twelve o’clock on Tuesday night. A little girl named Longmann was suffocated, and Mr. Hutchings, a draper, and his family were with difficulty rescued, the spread of flames being most rapid. Two shops and their contents were destroyed, despite the efforts of the local fire brigades. The damage is estimated at about £1,500.’ (The Morning Post, 25 November 1886 refers).