Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Dacres C. Beadon, May. 14. 1906) lacking integral top riband buckle, nearly extremely fine £100-£140

R.H.S. Case no. 34,609: ‘At 10 pm on the 14th May, 1906, owing to a sling becoming detached while a boat was being hoisted on board a ship off the mouth of the Tyne, W. C. Mason was knocked overboard. The night was dark, with a strong wind and heavy sea. At great risk, D. C. Beadon went over the side and succeeded in saving him. Beadon, unfortunately, died 2 1/2 hours later.’

The following additional detail is provided by the The Evening Chronicle of 16 May 1906:

‘Sad Death of a Tyne Works Manager, Through an Attempt to Save a Workman.

At Hebburn last night, Mr A. T. Shepherd, deputy coroner, held an inquest into circumstances of the death of Mr Dacres Caris Beadon, outside manager at the St. Peter’s works of Messrs. R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd who died on board the Russian Volunteer Fleet steamer Smolensk, after immersion at sea on Monday night.

Sir Benjamin Chapman Browne, chairman of Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd., gave evidence of identification, and said the deceased was outside manager at the engine works. He was 48 years of age, and resided at Monkseaton. He left the Tyne in charge of the engines of the Smolensk on Monday night. Witness was told yesterday morning that Mr. Beadon had died from the effects of being immersed in the sea.

William Matheson, manager of the shipyard of Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd., said he was on board the Smolensk, which left the Tyne between 5 and 6 o’clock on Monday evening. Between 8 and 9 preparations were made to transfer the workmen from the ship to a steam tug. There was a ground swell, and after one boat had been despatched from the steamer to the tug it was deemed inadvisable to send any more.

The captain gave orders for the boat to be hoisted and while this was being done the stern tackle slipped in consequence of the lurching of the ship, and the boat dropped into the sea. There were three or four men in the boat, one of whom named Mason, was in difficulties. Mr Beadon descended a rope ladder to the bottom to get hold of Mason and while he was hanging on he was frequently immersed in the sea.

The deceased and Mason were hauled on board as soon as possible and taken to the hospital on the steamer. They were attended to by the ship’s doctor and his assistants. Mr Beadon was unconscious when he was bought aboard. Hot water bottles were applied, and everything possible was done to revive him. He partly recovered consciousness, but shortly after half-past 12 a change came over Mr Beadon and he died.... The Coroner remarked it was a very melancholy occurrence indeed. Mr Beadon seemed to have lost his life entirely through his endeavours to save another man. One could not but feel the greatest sympathy with the deceased’s family and everyone connected to him.... The fifteen or twenty minutes frequent immersion in the cold sea had evidently been too much for his strength, and caused paralysis of the heart from which he died.....’

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