Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 2nd type, silver, obverse: a rayed all seeing eye with the word ‘Vigilo’ on a scroll below; reverse inscribed, ‘Presented at the Anniversary Meeting May 14, 1849. The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor Sir James Duke, M.P. in the chair, to Frederick Chapman, Fire Escape Conductor No. 6, for his very intrepid & persevering exertions in saving the lives of five persons at the fire on Holborn Hill May 5th 1848’, swivel ring suspension, nearly extremely fine, scarce £600-700

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 Society’s 2nd type medal was issued between 1844 and the early 1850’s.

The following extract from the report of the annual meeting of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire appeared in The Times on 15 May 1849: ‘The report then set forth at length the details of several very courageous actions of their conductors and others in saving several lives from fire, and the following persons were called forward by the Lord Mayor, and rewarded for their exertions as follows:- Fire-escape conductor Chapman, No. 6 in the service; police constable Smith, 240 G, and conductor Sunshine, No. 1, for exertions in saving several lives at the fire on Holborn-hill; Chapman, the Society’s silver medal (exceedingly well executed, and weighing nearly two ounces) and a sovereign; Smith, the silver medal; and Sunshine, a framed testimonial and a sovereign.’

‘A ladder was extended from the back leads of No. 64 Holborn Hill across two roofs and a parapet, up to a second floor window of No. 68, the building which was on fire. The rescued people were helped on to the ladder and thus down to a roof two doors away. As the last of the group climbed to safety through a neighbour’s skylight, No. 68 collapsed, dragging the ladder down into the flaming debris.’ (Extract from ‘Medals of the Society for the Protection of Life From Fire, by Robert W. Gould, M.B.E., L.S.A.R.S. Journal 16, p.32-46)