Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Thomas W. Bell H.M.S. Curacoa. 12 April 1884) lacking integral riband buckle, good very fine £200-£240

R.H.S. Case no. 22,309: ‘Thomas William Bell, Quartermaster of H.M. Corvette Curocoa, aged 25, and John Jermyn, Ship’s Corporal, aged 29, saved Private G. Ogden, Royal Marine Light Infantry, aged 28 at 7:30 p.m. on 12 April 1884.
The ship was anchored about 500 yards for the bank of the River Woosing in China. Private Ogden, attempting to come on board from a shore boat, fell into the river and was carried astern by the current, running at 3 knots an hour, in a depth of 6 fathoms. Thomas Bell dived overboard from an aft gun post, swam towards a dark object on the surface which proved to be the man’s cap. He then saw two hands uplifted and disappear. He dived, and succeeded in catching hold of the drowning man, and raised him to the surface. Jermyn jumped from the poop, swam to Bell’s assistance, picking up a lifebuoy on the way. A boat then came to pick them up.’

For their gallantry Bell was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Silver Medal, and Jermyn their Bronze Medal.