Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Victorian Humane Society, silver, reverse inscribed, ‘Awarded to William George Coleman, 10th May 1878’, good very fine, scarce £500-700

‘William George Coleman, traveller, Melbourne, saved the life of a young lady, and attempted to save those of her two sisters, in the River Yarra, on 26th January, 1878, by swimming to their assistance and sustaining them as long as his strength would allow.’ (ref. case no. 75).

The Victorian Humane Society was founded in 1874, changing its name, with the consent of Queen Victoria, to The Royal Humane Society of Australasia in September 1882. The approximate number of medals awarded by the Victorian Humane Society during the period 1874-82 was 2 gold, 29 silver and 66 bronze.

With copy of the citation from the Society.