Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Father and Son family group:

Pair: Superintendent E. E. Thomas, Indian Prison Service

Imperial Service Order, G.V.R., silver, gold and enamel, unnamed as issued, in Elkington, London case of issue; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine

Five: W. A. G. Thomas

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William A. G. Thomas, 13th Aug. 1921), complete with buckle bar in Elkington case of issue; British Red Cross Society Proficiency Cross (2) Red Cross First-Aid (016000 W. A. G. Thomas); another, Red Cross Nursing (39398 W. A. G. Thomas); B.R.C.S. County of Middlesex Badge (18143 W. A. G. Thomas), these three enamelled; Nagpur Prize Medal (William A. G. Thomas), obverse inscribed, ‘War Fête, Nagpur, C.P., Dec. 1915’; reverse inscribed, ‘Best Rifle Shot & Youngest Competitor, Age 10 1/2 years’, 37mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1913, first extremely fine, others very fine and better (lot)
£260-300

The medals to Ethelbert Edward Thomas sold with original (card backed) I.S.O. bestowal document to the recipient as Superintendent of the Central Jail, Nagpur, Central Provinces, dated 5 June 1920; I.S.O. Statutes; telegram of congratulations from the Chief Commissioner; letter of congratulations; Baptism Certificate 1860 (fragmentary); Marriage Certificate 1902; Death Certificate 1945; copy of Will, and nine associated photographs.

The medals to William Arthur Greene Thomas sold with original (card backed) R.H.S. Bronze Medal bestowal document for having saved life from drowning; R.H.S. Annual Report Booklet for 1922 (in which Thomas’s name is listed); hand-written account of the rescue by Mr Cecil Claudius; another hand-written account copied from the Statesman; recipient’s Baptism Certificate, Christ Church, Jubbulpore 1905 (damaged); Marriage Certificate 1942; photographs (4) of the recipient; paper clippings (8) detailing the rescue and presentation of the R.H.S. Medal, and a St. Edward’s School badge. In addition to the above is a wealth of certificates, papers, cuttings, letters and genealogical notes relating to the two recipients and their family.

Extract from the Statesman, Calcutta, 15 October 1921, ‘Rescue from Drowning at Nagpur; Boy Scouts’ Plucky Act’:



‘While bathing in Telenkheri Lake recently, three boys, James Donovan, Osmand Crizzle and David Gadre, all Boy Scouts aged between 13 and 15, were wading out towards a companion, George Slaney, when they stepped into a blind well. The boys were unable to swim and Slaney, who is a powerful swimmer, immediately went to their assistance and was pulled under water by all three boys clinging to him.

Mr Claudius, 1st Assistant Master of the Bishop Cotton School, Nagpur, who was also bathing in the lake went to the rescue, together with some of the senior boys. Mr Claudius managed to get David Gadre to safety to the bank while Noel Slaney, the senior boy of the school, rescued his brother George, who was in an exhausted condition. Mr Claudius returned to help the two other boys, but they seized him round the neck and shoulders. William Thomas, also a Boy Scout, then went to the assistance of Mr Claudius and the two boys. The master managed to cling on to Thomas’ shoulders just as he was being pulled under water by the weight of the two struggling boys.

Had it not been for Thomas’ action the two boys and Mr Claudius would have been drowned. Thomas twice reached the edge of the well and was pulled in again by the master, but fortunately Noel Slaney caught Thomas’ hand and pulled them all to safety.’

William Arthur Greene Thomas was born on 23 July 1905, at Jubbulpore, India, the only son of Ethelbert Edward and Mary Amelia Thomas. His father was employed in the Indian Prison Service and in 1920 was awarded the I.S.O. as Superintendent of the Central Jail, Nagpur. William’s act of bravery at Telenkheri Lake took place on 13 August 1921 and was all the more remarkable in that as a novice swimmer it was the first time he had swum in the lake without the aid of a safety rope. The presentation of the R.H.S. Bronze Medal was made on 5 July 1922 at Cleveland Baths following a swimming gala between teams from King Edward’s School, Bath and the University of the West (Bristol) in aid of the University. The Mayor of Bath presented the medal to Thomas, who at the time was a boarder at St. Edward’s School.