Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Captain N. L. Stanley, Royal Navy, who was twice decorated by the Royal Humane Society for saving life

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Commr. N. L. Stanley, R.N. H.M.S. Philomel); 1914-15 Star (Capt. N. L. Stanley. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. N. L. Stanley. R.N.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (N. L. Stanley, Midshipman, H.M.S. “Orlando” 1st March 1890); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Comdr. N. L. Stanley. R.N. 22nd Sept. 1913) the first four mounted for display, the last two mounted as worn from a twin bronze buckle brooch, good very fine (6) £300-£400

R.H.S. Report: 1890. ‘For saving life of T. Porthouse at Hobart, Tasmania on 1st March 1890. Porthouse who weighed 15 St. fell off pier at 10 p.m. on a very dark night and was very dangerous in the water endeavouring to catch hold of his shirt.’

R.H.S. Report: 1913. ‘At 1.40 p.m. on the 22nd September, 1913, a stoker belonging to H.M.S. Europa fell overboard from the vessel at Portsmouth. Commander Norman L. Stanley at once jumped after him, and, with a lifebuoy, kept him afloat till they were picked up.’

Norman Lichfield Stanley was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, on 14 May 1872, son of Rev. T. L. Stanley. He joined the Royal Navy on 15 January 1886 aboard the Training Ship Britannia and was rated Midshipman without Examination on 15 June 1888, having gained three months time on passing out of Britannia. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 14 June 1892; Lieutenant, 30 June 1894; Commander, 31 December 1905; Acting Captain, 3 July 1915. He took command of Philomel on the East Indies station on 17 January 1911, but was invalided at Colombo on 2 September 1911, suffering from ‘varicose eczema of right leg, due to climatic conditions & strain involved in Blockade in Persian Gulf.’ He returned to sea in command of Hermione in February 1912, took command of Europa in August 1913, and of the Armed Merchant Cruiser Oropesa on 23 November 1914, and for services in this ship on Patrol Service he was promoted to Acting Captain on 3 July 1915 (London Gazette 7 August 1915). He took command of H.M.S. Gloucestershire upon commissioning on 5 January 1916, a commercial liner just converted for use as an Armed Merchant Cruiser. Here he remained until 11 July 1917, when he was invalided to Hasler Hospital with a varicose ulcer, perhaps a flare-up of the complaint he contracted in the Persian Gulf which in effect put an end to his active service for the remainder of the war.