Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Lieutenant-Commander W. G. Windham, Royal Navy, awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Silver and the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea in Silver for his services at the ‘Warren Hastings’ disaster

1914 Star, with (loose) copy clasp (Lieut. W. G. Windham, R.N., Transport Staff); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. W. G. Windham, R.N.); Coronation 1902, silver, these four mounted as worn; Royal Humane Society, small, silver medal (successful) (Lieut. W. G. Windham, R.I.M., 14th Jan. 1897.) with silver buckle on ribbon; Lloyd's Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (Lieut. W. G. Windham, R.I.M. "Warren Hastings" 14th Jany. 1897); Royal Humane Society, small, bronze (successful) (Lieut. W. G. Windham, July 14, 1902) with bronze buckle on ribbon, these three mounted as worn, good very fine (7)
£1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Old Collection of Medals Relating to The Great War.

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R.H.S. Silver Medal citation (case no. 28742)

'At 2.20 a.m. on the 14th January, 1897, the Royal Indian Marine troopship Warren Hastings, conveying troops from the Cape to Mauritius, was wrecked on the Island of Reunion. The night was so intensely dark that it was impossible to distinguish anything more than a few feet away, and the rain falling in torrents. The sea at the time was calm, with a moderate swell, the backwash being sufficient to prevent anyone landing without assistance. Perfect discipline was maintained, and the obedience, good order, and coolness displayed by the men was remarkable. Even when it was expected that the vessel would heel over, the men stood quietly aside to allow the women and children to be taken to shore. The total number of persons on board was 1246, and all were safely landed with the exception of two natives, who were drowned in endeavouring to swim to land. There were numerous acts of devotion and gallantry in saving life, and Lieut. Colonel M. Forestier-Walker, commanding the troops on board, named the above mentioned eighteen men as having specially distinguished themselves under the trying circumstances in which they were placed’.

Lieutenant Windham was one of the 18 men awarded the R.H.S. Medal in silver for this action; and was one of the two men of the Royal Indian Marine to be so awarded.For the same action he was awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea. For an article on the wreck of the Warren Hastings, see also Public Record Office File MT9.1267/M1000/1919 or The Wreck of the Warren Hastings, by W. Fevyer, L.S.A.R.S.J. No. 9, p.25-77.

In 1902 Lieutenant Windham, King's Foreign Messenger, was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in bronze (case no. 32374).

'On the 14th July 1902, the son of the American Ambassador at Constantinople was bathing in the Bosphorus, when he became exhausted in the strong tide running. At great risk, Windham went to his help and, with difficulty, succeeded in saving him.'

With indistinct copied Great War service papers.