Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Bristol Humane Society Silver Medal awarded to Boy F. Evans of the Training Ship Formidable, an 11 year old who selflessly jumped into a 'heavy sea' in the Bristol Channel to save an equally young lad from drowning

Bristol Humane Society, silver medallion, 48mm, ornately engraved to reverse 'To Frederick Evans, for Saving the Life of Edward Boyd, April 9th. 1877.', solder repair to top suspension loop, contact marks, very fine, scarce £500-£700

Frederick Evans was presented with the Silver Medal of the Bristol Humane Society and the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society by the Mayor of Bristol at a ceremony held in the city. The whole episode was described by The Western Daily Press on 24 July 1877:
‘Treat by the Mayor. In accordance with a promise made when distributing the annual prizes in February last, the Mayor (Alderman Edwards) gave a treat to the boys of the Formidable training ship yesterday. The company, numbering 360 boys and 20 officers, left Portishead by the eleven o'clock train, and arrived at the Zoological Gardens about half-past twelve. Here, for about one hour and a half, the lads enjoyed themselves in viewing the various animals, the curious pranks of the monkeys affording especial amusement. At two o'clock, the party sat down to dinner in a large tent, supplied by Messrs Hopkins.
There was good substantial fare, and the boys were bountifully supplied, none having, like Oliver Twist, to "ask for more" - at least not with the same result. The repast over, the lads were dismissed, and enjoyed themselves as best they could until five o'clock, when they returned to the tent, and were regaled with buns, lemonade and fruit. Soon after, they marched to the lawn of the Mansion House, where it was intended to have had some singing and playing, but the weather partially interfered with this arrangement. An interesting feature of the day’s proceedings was the presentation to a lad named Evans, who in April last, during a strong tide and heavy sea, jumped overboard to save a companion named Boyd. Evans was but 11 years of age at the time he displayed such bravery. On leaving the lawn for the station, the lads were presented with a quantity of strawberries.’

Despite such a happy affair, the life aboard the Formidable Training Ship remained harsh for the young boys, many of whom were previously homeless and living on the streets of Bristol; a month later, a lad called Kellard fell 95 feet to his death from the upper rigging, repeatedly striking his head on the way down. Furthermore, in October 1877, the ship gained national press attention when 13 runaways lowered a boat and made off down the Bristol Channel. Captured at a farmhouse at Kingston Seymour, the York Herald on 11 October 1877 made plain the consequences: ‘They were taken back to the ship on Sunday night, and will be punished.’