Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, small gold medal, 27mm, gold (9ct?) and enamel, the obverse showing a lifeboat going to the aid of a stricken dismasted vessel, ‘Royal National Lifeboat Institution’ on enamelled ‘life ring’ around, with surmounting crown, the reverse inscribed ‘Presented by the Royal National Life Boat Institution to Captain George Usborne. R.N. in recognition of his valuable cooperation 1907.’, with bow riband, in Alstons & Hallam, London, fitted case, about extremely fine, rare £240-£280

George Usborne entered the Royal Navy on 21 November 1856, and was promoted Sub-Lieutenant on 16 March 1865, Lieutenant on 7 March 1867, Commander on 1 January 1874, and retired with the rank of Captain on 1 January 1889.

His entry in Lean’s Navy List in 1907 states: ‘Usborne, G., when Commander of the Coast Guard at Folkestone, received, 17th October 1878, the thanks of the Emperor of Germany, together with a Berlin vase bearing the Emperor’s portrait, for his services and assistance on the occasion of the loss of the German ironclad Grösser Kurfürst.’

The Grösser Kurfürst was an Imperial German warship that sank off Sandgate, Kent, on her maiden voyage on 31 May 1878, with the loss of 287 lives, after colliding with the German warship König Wilhelm. Many of the survivors were rescued by the Folkestone and Hythe lifeboats.

Sold with a large file of research regarding the loss of the Grösser Kurfürst.