Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, bronze (Mr. Farewell Barnes. 1920.) with integral top ‘For Humanity’ brooch bar, in Spink, London, case of issue, extremely fine £140-180

Farewell Barnes was born in the Derbyshire village of Eyham in 1878 and remained a resident throughout his life. At the time of the act for which he received his R.S.P.C.A. medal he was employed in the neighbouring village of Stoney Middleton.

The following report appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post of 30 October 1920:
‘Getting the Goat - Daring Feat on Derbyshire Rocks
A daring feat has been performed at Stoney Middleton in effecting the rescue of a goat from a perilous position on the high rocks opposite the Cupola Works.
The animal, which belonged to Mr. William Ball, Stoney Middleton, slipped onto a high narrow ledge, where it remained for three days, unable to move. Mr. Farewell Barnes, an employee at the Cupola Works, boldly climbed an almost inaccessible position, from which he lowered a rope to the narrow ledge, and hauled the goat to safety.
His exploit was watched with breathless anxiety by his workmates.’