Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William J. Williams, 22nd. Feb. 1898.) with integral top riband buckle, edge bruising, nearly very fine £120-£160

R.H.S. Case no. 29,339:
‘On 22 February 1898, the coastguard boat was capsized off Wells Point, Norfolk. Four of the five men were drowned, the fifth, named Devlin, held onto the boat, which drifted inshore. Commissioned Boatman William J. Williams, H.M. Coastguard, gallantly swam out and succeeded in bringing him to shore in an unconscious state, where he died two hours after.’