Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, large bronze medal (successful) (Willm. Martin Drum Major H.M’s. 15th Regt. 8. Aug. 1862) extremely fine £240-280

Royal Humane Society, case no. 16968:

‘On 8 August 1862 Private J. McCarthy, H.M. 15th Regiment of Foot, was bathing in the St. John River, in Frederichton, New Brunswick, when he got into difficulties and sank beneath the water. Drum Major William Martin and Private Richard Richards, both of the 15th Regiment of Foot, swam to his assistance and managed to rescue him. The case was brought to the attention of the Royal Humane Society by the Commanding Officer, Colonel J. A. Cole, and the Regimental Surgeon, Surgeon-Major D. Dyer. The Royal Humane Society granted its Bronze Medal to both William Martin and Richard Richards and on 22 November 1862 sent the medals out through the Colonial Office for presentation.’

William Martin was born on 3 May 1829 in Chester and attested for the 15th (East Yorkshire) Regiment of Foot on 3 June 1844. Advanced Sergeant on 21 October 1861, he was appointed Drum-Major on 27 June 1862, and was awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 16 June 1866, four years after the award of his Royal Humane Society Medal. He was discharged on 17 November 1868, after 21 years and 15 days’ service, of which 6 years and 2 months were spent in North America.

N.B. Another R.H.S. medal together with an Army L.S. & G.C. medal to Drum Major William Martin was sold in the Collection of Medals to Musicians formed by the late Llewellyn Lord, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2016.