A rare Life Saving pair awarded to Mr. S. Coke, for the rescue of a young girl who had fallen through the ice on Welsh Harp pond, Hendon, on 5 February 1895

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Sidney Coke, 5th February, 1895) with integral top riband buckle; ‘Today’ Gallantry Fund Medal, bronze (Sidney Coke 1-3-95) with top bronze brooch bar, extremely fine, rare (2)
£500-700

Provenance: Charles A. Lusted, April 1979.

R.H.S. Case no. 27,576: ‘At 3:40 p.m. on 5th February 1895, Lily Jones, aged 11, of 14 Packhall Road, Cricklewood, fell through thin ice whilst sliding on Welsh Harp pond in Hendon. The water was 15-20 feet deep, but Sidney Coke, aged 25, an umbrella-maker of 339 Oxford Street, London, plunged in to her rescue and succeeded in keeping her afloat till the Royal Humane Society’s ladder was brought and both were rescued.’

The Hendon and Finchley District Times gives further details as to the gallant act:
‘Whilst the races were in progress on the ice at the Welsh Harp on Tuesday, and whilst some 3,000 people were cheering on the two finest skaters in England at the present time, an accident took place upon the upper waters near to the Edgware-road bridge. Those who have heard the dread cry of “Man overboard” will know the consternation these two words will cause among the crew of a boat at sea; and with the ice in such safe condition as it was on Tuesday the cry of someone in the water came as a surprise and shock to all. Those who were engaged in watching the races knew nothing of the accident, but those where were skating near the bridge shortly before four o’clock heard the cry, and there was a rush to the Edgware-road bridge immediately. It was seen then that a young girl, Eliza Jones, of 14 Packhall Road, Cricklewood, had fallen into the water in close proximity to the bridge on the railway viaduct side of the road. It appears that she had left her friends and had wandered on to the ice to slide. Round about by the arches of the bridge the water was barely frozen, whilst a few more yards away, owing to the current, it was not of great thickness, and the little girl, in attempting to walk across towards the old pump, fell through the thin ice. A cry was at once raised, and in a few seconds there was quite a crowd of people upon the bridge. One of these, a young fellow named Sidney Coke, aged 25, of 339 Oxford Street, jumped off the parapet into the water with the intention of saving the child, but was unable to do anything. Meanwhile P.C. McDermott had arrived on the scene, and perceiving the state of affairs went onto the big water and fetched one of the long ice ladders, and carried it across the road. This was run out to the hole, and with the assistance of Mr. A. Ginger, of Kilburn, the two persons were got out of the water and taken to the Royal Humane Society’s receiving-house within the grounds of the Welsh Harp. Dr. Edward Burgess attended to the wants of Miss Jones and Mr. Coke, and restorative having been applied they were put to bed at the Welsh Harp, being somewhat weak and exhausted. Consequently the water was watched by men of the Royal Humane Society, and boats were placed upon the ice at various spots in order to be at hand in case of need.’

The Today Gallantry Fund Medal is one of the scarcest gallantry awards, and was awarded by the magazine ‘Today’, published between 1893 and 1903. Its first editor was the novelist Jerome K. Jerome, who enthusiastically promoted the idea of a Gallantry Fund, but when he resigned the editorship in 1897 the Fund soon fell into disuse. Approximately 30 medals were awarded, in either silver or bronze.