Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

France, Shipwreck and Humane Society, silver medal, the reverse inscribed ‘A Monsr. R. J. W. Dennistoun. Sauvetage de Miss Rich. 13 Aout 1870’, the edge engraved ‘Ville de Boulogne-sur-Mer’, silver mark to edge, small ring suspension, minor edge bruising, very fine £150-200

Provenance: Alan Wolfe Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005.

Richard James William Dennistoun was born in Roxburgh, Scotland, on 9 August 1846, and was commissioned an Ensign in the 64th Regiment of Foot on 10 November 1865. Promoted Lieutenant on 24 April 1869, he was awarded the French Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Medal for saving a drowning person at Boulogne, France, on 13 August 1870: ‘On Saturday morning our beach was the stage for several moving events that proved once again the devotion of those who come under the notice of the Shipwreck and Humane Society. Around midday Colonel Rich’s family was bathing on the west side of the harbour, when a young lady and a little girl were swept up by the current. The child, immediately rescued, was soon out of danger; but it was not the same for the young lady who would doubtless have perished without the assistance of two people who were on the shore at that moment, Mr. Richard Dennistoun, a Captain in the English Army, and The Count of Orfengo. Though completely dressed these gentlemen threw themselves resolutely into the waves, and Mr. Dennistoun was fortunate enough to bring the person in danger back to the shore. It was with the most commendable spontaneity that they went to the scene of the accident. We do not need to speak of the courageous conduct held by Mr. Dennistoun and Count Orfengo. We are assured that more than once they have risked their lives under the same conditions, with the same boldness and the same success.’ (la France du Nord, 15 August 1870 refers).

Receiving his Majority on 1 July 1881, Dennistoun died at Torquay, Devon, on 5 May 1888, never having seen active service.