Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique R.N.L.I. Medal and American Cross of Honour pair awarded to Sydney James Harris, Coxswain Superintendent of the Gorleston Lifeboats, in Norfolk, the only man to have been awarded the silver medal five times

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, E.VII.R., silver, 4 clasps, Second Service, Third Service, Fourth Service, Fifth Service (Mr Sidney Harris, voted 9th February 1905), rev. of clasps respectively engraved, ‘Voted 14th Dec. 1905’, ‘Voted 11th Nov. 1902’, ‘Voted 12th Sept. 1912’, ‘Voted 14th April 1916’, double-dolphin suspension, in Alstons & Hallam, London case of issue, suspension a little slack, minor edge bruising, good very fine, rare; U.S.A., American Cross of Honor, by Meyer, Washington D.C., gold and enamel cross bearing the letters and date, ‘A.C.H. 1906’, set within a wreath with eagle above; rev. inscribed, ‘Presented to Sidney James Harris for the Most Heroic Life Saving Service during 1912-3’, complete with gold brooch bar inscribed, ‘For Valor’, in case of issue, this last extremely fine (2) £4000-5000

Coxswain Superintendent Sydney James Harris, Gorleston Lifeboats. Coxswain of the Thora Zelma at Gorleston No. 3 Station, 1892-1903; Coxswain of the James Stevens No.3 at Gorleston No. 4 Station, 1903-08, and Coxswain of the Mark Lane No.3 at Gorlston No. 1 Station, 1903 until his retirement in 1921. He died on 20 June 1928.

Silver Medal ‘15-16 January 1905: After blowing for some days, the strong south-east wind increased to a furious gale on the night of 15-16th and, with a terrific sea and below-freezing temperature, the conditions on the Gorleston bar were abysmal. Shortly after 6 p.m., the Lowestoft brig Celerity was reported in distress four miles to the south. The steam lifeboat James Stevens No.3 got up steam, slipped moorings, reached the brig and successfully took off the six man crew. As it was impossible to return over the bar at low tide, the lifeboat anchored outside in the biting cold and fury of the storm until she was able to make harbour at 2 a.m.’ Coxswain Superintendent Harris, Gorleston Lifeboats and Chief Engineer James Sclanders, Gorleston Lifeboat were awarded the silver medal for this rescue.

Second Service Clasp ‘11 November 1905: The Wick lugger Fruitful had been wrecked off Gorleston, Norfolk, on a cold stormy day with a crew of eight hands aboard. After two unsuccessful attempts to get a line aboard the Fruitful, Coxswain Harris entered the water in a heavy sea and secured a buoy which had been floated on a line from the vessel. Coxswain Harris had maintained his position in the water for an hour before being able to effect the communication by which means all hands were saved’.

Third Service Clasp ‘28 October 1909: The Aberdeen S.S. Clunie was seen on Cockle Shoal, off Gorleston, Norfolk, with her crew in the rigging. When the self-righting life boat Mark Lane reached her she was found to be drifting in the gale. Coxswain Harris anchored and veered down to the vessel, but only four men had been rescued when his cable was out at full length. Weighing anchor, he followed the vessel which was leaking badly, her fires extinguished and the remainder of her crew still on board. The situation was made more dangerous by wreckage and empty barrels which had broken adrift. A tug, which was in attendance, managed to establish a tow and, accompanied by the lifeboat, with some lifeboatmen on the Clunie, towed the ketch and the nine men aboard to safety’. Coxswain Superintendent Harris, Gorleston Lifeboats was awarded the ‘Third Service’ clasp, and (his brother) Assistant Coxswain Ellery Harris, Gorleston No.1 Lifeboat was awarded the silver medal for this rescue.

Fourth Service Clasp ‘27 August 1912: On passage from Antwerp to the Tyne with a cargo of concrete and iron, the 2,923 ton Glasgow S.S. Egyptian stranded on Cross Ridge, Scroby Sand, off Yarmouth, Norfolk, in a east-south-east gale. The Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat Mark Lane put out under tow, to find very heavy seas breaking around the casualty but, getting alongside, took off 13 people including the Master’s wife and child. The remaining 20 men refused to leave, therefore Coxswain Harris left and landed those that he had on board at 10 a.m. Two further attempts to find the ship in the afternoon were foiled by torrential rain. During the night, the lifeboat was called out again and, in very difficult circumstances, communication was effected by means of a bladder floated to the ship on the end of a rope; this was made secure and the men climbed down and were hauled through the water to the lifeboat. All 20 men were brought safely ashore’. For this rescue Harris was further awarded the American Cross of Honor, for what was recognized as the ‘Most Heroic Life Saving Service during 1912-13’.



Fifth Service Clasp ‘29 March 1916: When the Jersey schooner Dart sank off Corton, Suffolk, north of Lowestoft in blinding snow and gale “of almost unparalleled violence”, her four man crew took to the rigging. The Gorleston No.1 Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat Mark Lane put off and, nearing the wreck, anchored and veered down but was driven over her and had to haul back. Coxswain Harris held her in position and Mr Bensley jumped into the schooner’s rigging to transfer into the lifeboat the four men helpless from exposure, bitter cold and driving sleet.’ Coxswain Superintendent Harris, Gorleston Lifeboats was awarded the ‘Fifth Service’ clasp, and Crew Member Edward Bensley, Gorleston No.1 Lifeboat was awarded the silver medal for this rescue. (Ref. Lifeboat Gallantry by Barry Cox).