Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Royal Humane Society Medal with Second Award Bar awarded to Boatswain J. J. Litton, H.M.S. Impregnable, Royal Navy

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (James Litton, Actg. Boatsn. H.M.S. Impregnable, 20 Feb, 1877) with Second Award Bar, this dated ‘3 & 5 May, 1878’, with integral top riband buckle, in damaged case of issue, minor edge bruising, good very fine £240-£280

James John Litton was born in Exeter on 7 January 1844 and joined the Royal Navy on 5 March 1858 as a Boy Second Class. Whist Serving as a Boatswain on H.M.S. Impregnable, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for saving a member of the crew on 20 February 1877:
‘James Litton, Acting Boatswain, H.M.S. Impregnable, Devonport, jumped overboard and rescued C. H. Baker, Boy 2nd Class, H.M.S. Impregnable, who was unable to swim.’

He was awarded a Second Award Bar to his medal for saving life twice in the space of three days in May 1878:
3 May 1878: ‘Mr J. J. Litton, Boatswain, R.N, H.M.S. Impregnable, jumped into the water with all his clothes on, swam to the spot, and brought the following children safe on shore – Matilda Coad and Alice Burnard, of Devonport.’
5 May 1878: ‘Jumped overboard and rescued J. Saxton who fell overboard’

Sold with copied research which notes that the recipient saved a total of 14 people during his service.