Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, proficiency in swimming medallion, silver (Louis Martineau), obverse exergue inscribed, ‘Marlborough College 1883’, extremely fine £30-40

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Life Saving, Police and Fire Brigade Medals from the James N Spencer Collection.

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The Humane Society’s medal was instituted in 1882 and discontinued in 1939 because it was considered that the granting of awards for learning life saving skills was more appropriate to the Royal life Saving Society.

Louis Martineau was born on 2 March 1866, the son of D. Martineau of Clapham. At Marlborough College, in 1883 he gained the Royal Humane Society Medal for proficiency in swimming exercise with reference to saving life from drowning; he was in the Gym VIII 1882-84 (Captain 1883-84) and prefect in 1884. He studied at London University and in later life was a Civil Engineer. He was a Whitworth Engineer Exhibitioner in 1891. Martineau died in Bangkok on 5 August 1895.