Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Albert Medal Second Class for Sea life-saving group of four awarded to Commander C. W. Robinson, Royal Naval Reserve, Third Officer of the S.S. Teutonic, for his great gallantry in attempting to save the life of a lunatic passenger who jumped overboard in St. George’s Channel on the night of 17 April 1895- leaping after him into the sea his efforts at rescue were met with violent resistance, and when picked up was in an exhausted condition, requiring two hours’ continuous exertion to bring him to life again. In addition to his Albert Medal he was awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal in Gold; the Mercantile Marine Service Association Medal; and was the inaugural recipient of the extremely rare Merchant Service Guild Cross, the latter award being one of only 3 known

Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, bronze and enamel, the reverse officially engraved ‘Presented in the name of Her Majesty to Sub-Lieut: Charles Wood Robinson, R.N.R. Third Officer of the R.M.S. “Teutonic” of Liverpool in recognition of his Gallantry in attempting to rescue a passenger who jumped overboard in the St. George’s Channel on the 17th. April 1895’, reverse of the crown with maker’s cartouché Phillips, Cockspur St., unnumbered, in embossed leather case of issue named ‘Presented in the name of Her Majesty to Charles Wood Robinson, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea’; Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal, 3rd type, gold (Mr. C. W. Robinson. 3rd. Offr. S.S. Teutonic for having jumped overboard to rescue a passenger in the Irish Channel. 17/4/95) with top gold riband buckle, in fitted case of issue; Mercantile Marine Service Association Medal, silver, the reverse engraved ‘To Mr. C. W. Robinson, Sub-Lieut. R.N.R., Third Officer R.M.S. “Teutonic” for conspicuous bravery in jumping overboard to rescue a passenger while ship was going 21 knots 17. April, 1895.’, with top silver riband buckle, in case of issue; Merchant Service Guild Cross, 64mm, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the reverse engraved ‘Presented by The Merchant Service Guild to C. Wood Robinson. R.N.R. for Heroism at Sea July 1895’, with top suspension bar, in case of issue; together with a silver prize medal, the obverse engraved ‘Conway Boys verses Nautical World Winner C. W. Robinson “Conway”’, the reverse engraved ‘C.M.C.C. Queen’s Jubilee 1887’, extremely fine (5) £6,000-£8,000

Provenance: Spink, June 1986.

A.M. London Gazette 21 June 1895:
‘While the R.M.S. Teutonic was steaming at the rate of about 21 knots in St. George’s Channel on 17th April 1895, at 6:30 a.m., when few people were about the deck, Mr. Robinson, the Third Officer, noticed a passenger climbing on the rail of the ship with the evident intention of jumping overboard. He made an ineffectual attempt to prevent him and then dived fully clothed after the man from a height of 25 feet above the water, and only about 30 feet forward of the propellers of the vessel. His efforts at rescue were met with violent resistance, and in the end the man succeeded in drowning himself. Mr. Robinson ran great risk of being drawn under the propellers, and when picked up was in a very exhausted condition.’

Charles Wood Robinson was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 September 1894, and having been promoted Lieutenant, was placed on the Retired List on his own request on 22 January 1906, with permission to assume the rank of Commander.

Note: The Merchant Service Guild was a break-away organisation from the Mercantile Marine Service Association that was founded in 1860, and existed until they merged again in 1936. Their Cross was only awarded where exceptional valour had been exhibited, and where either the Albert Medal or the Royal Humane Society Stanhope Gold Medal had been awarded. The Medal Year Book states that only three examples of the Imperial Merchant Service Guild Cross are known, those to Robinson, for this action in 1895; and two subsequent recipients, Captain W. J. Nutman, A.M., who received his for an act of gallantry on 19 January 1896 (and whose medals were sold in these rooms in December 2016), and Captain J. H. Collin, who received his for an act of gallantry on 28 July 1896 (and whose medals were sold in these rooms in March 2017).