Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (R.H.S Do. C. H. Smith Vitam ob Restitutam Dono Dat 1811.) minor scratch to obverse field, good very fine £200-240

C. H. Smith was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s silver medal for the successful rescue of James Dunstone, who was drowning in St. James’s Park on 3 January 1811 (Case no. 7,420). Testimony for the gallant act was given by Mr. Smith himself in a letter communicated to the Society’s Registrar on 25 February 1811:

‘Sir, Having been skating for a short time in the evening of the 3d ultimo, upon the canal in St. James’s Park, on my way out, I observed a number of people collected, which, when I approached, proved to be occasioned by a lad in the act of drowning; they were in much confusion, and calling out for a rope; but neither that or any other such means being at hand, and the lad’s situation such as would admit of no time being lost, I threw off my coats, took the person next me by the hand, desired another to take his, and so on; went upon the ice, which by my repeated jumpings broke in; with the hand had at liberty, I continued breaking my way on, until I was breast-high in water, and found it happily in my power to lay hold of the lad, stretching my hand across a piece of ice that lay between us, and to drag him out. On his first being taken out he was to all appearance dead; but after having opened his waistcoat, and wiped his chest dry, and then sitting down, having rolled him on my thighs for some minutes, he exhibited signs of life, which encouraged me to proceed until he was able to speak. After being so far recovered he said in answer to my inquiries that his name was Dunstone, that he lived at No. 35 Northumberland Street, Strand, at Mr. Fugan’s. I gave him into the charge of some people present, who offered their services to conduct him home, and desired they would take him to some place where he might have some warm brandy and water.’

Further testimony was provided by Mr. Sam Trickey:
‘Sir, I do declare that I was in company with my friend Mr. C. H. Smith, on the evening of the 3d of last month; that I witnessed the whole of the circumstance he has here related, and it is my firm opinion, but for his exertions the boy must have inevitably have lost his life.’

Following the rescue, Smith’s father wrote to James Dunstone’s mother to congratulate her on her son’s rescue, and received a letter back from the Dunstone himself, dated 20 February 1811:

‘Honoured Sir, I am too young to express my mother’s and my own gratitude as I wish to do, to your worthy son - his humanity has saved my life; for this I shall ever feel indebted to him. Any man might have rendered me this service, but few would have been so kind and benevolent as he has been since my rescue; I am truly sorry that he has suffered by this act of charity. May the Lord reward him! I see with pleasure that the notice you have been pleased to take of this adventure originates in the known worth of a dear son, and the heartfelt comfort he affords you: that you both may mutually enjoy this comfort many years, will ever be the constant prayer of the widowed mother and the eldest of her three orphans, who begs leave to subscribe herself with respect and gratitude.’