Laetitia Lifeboat Medal 1866, silver, obverse: the Austrian brig ‘Osip’ sinking; reverse inscribed in raised letters, ‘Presented to each member of the crew of the Lifeboat Laetitia for the gallant rescue of 7 Austrian sailors from the brig Osip lost off Lowestoft during the storm of Jan. 13th 1866, Esto Perpetua’, unnamed, ring mount and ring suspension, in case, extremely fine, rare £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Life Saving, Police and Fire Brigade Medals from the James N Spencer Collection.

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On the morning of 13th January 1866, the Austrian brig Osip (Captain Guiseppe Descovich of Fiume), with a crew of 11 plus the Falmouth pilot, en route from Falmouth to Hartlepool with a cargo of maize, ran aground in a storm on the Holm Sands off Lowestoft. The yawl Young Prince made for the ship but her help was refused. With the storm increasing another yawl, the Albatross sailed towards the brig but was unable to communicate with those on board and so for her safety made for shore. The lifeboat Victoria then made for the wreck, towed part of the way by the tug Rainbow but because of the high sea and the wreckage from the ship she was unable to get near and had to return to the shore. A second attempt was then made by the lifeboat, Rainbow again towing it part of the way. This time the gallant lifeboatmen were successful and although nothing much of the Osip remained above water, 7 of the crew were brought away to safety. The Captain and the Pilot were amongst those who were lost.

The gallant action in saving Austrian nationals was reported to the Austrian government but being distracted with a war with Prussia at the time, no awards were made. It was not until 1893, twenty-seven years after the incident that privately made medals were issued. These were presented by the Mayor of Lowestoft to the men of the lifeboat who had made one or both trips to the Osip. 29 medals were awarded. The lifeboat Victoria was renamed Laetitia in 1869. See ‘The Osip Medal to the Crew of the Laetitia by Bill Fevyer, L.S.A.R.S. Journal 17, p.38 - 40 and ‘The Life Saving Medal for the Wreck of the Osip’, by Gary Brown, L.S.A.R.S. Journal 39, p.27 - 29.