Life Saving Awards from the Collection of John Wilson

A rare Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society ‘In Memoriam’ Medal awarded to the parents of Apprentice Pilot John Spencer Tully

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, ‘In Memoriam’ Medal (“In Memoriam” Presented by the Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society to Commander and Mrs E. E. Tully, in memory of their son John Spencer Tully, who was drowned when making a gallant attempt to save the lives of others on 26th Nov., 1939) 58mm., frosted silver medal, glazed with an inscribed silver frame, in fitted case of issue; together with a Carnegie Hero Fund Certificate, ‘In recognition of the Heroism of John S. Tully, who died on 26th November 1939 as the result of efforts to save human life at Ainsdale Beach, Lanc.’, in original glazed oak frame, 52.5 x 42.5cm., medal nearly extremely fine (2) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Life Saving Awards from the Collection of John Wilson.

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Ex Sotheby’s 2 May 2001.

Liverpool Shipwreck & Humane Society – 101st Annual Report, year ending 1st July 1940:

‘Silver “In Memoriam” Medallion to the parents of the late John Kenneth Lancaster, Boathand, Liverpool Pilot Service; Silver “In Memoriam” Medallion to the parents of the late John Spencer Tully, Boathand, Liverpool Pilot Service Silver “In Memoriam” Medallion to the parents of the late Frank Samuel Waddington, Boathand, Liverpool Pilot Service Silver “In Memoriam” Medallion to the parents of the late Peter Moss Horswell, Boathand, Liverpool Pilot Service

These four young men were drowned while making a gallant effort to save the lives of others, when the Liverpool Pilot Boat, No.1, stranded on the Beach at Ainsdale, 26th November, 1939.’

Carnegie Hero Trust Fund - Annual Report 1940 (Case No. 6488):

‘John Kenneth Lancaster (22½), senior apprentice pilot; John Spenser Tully (19), apprentice pilot; Peter Moss Horswell (21½), apprentice pilot and Frank Samuel Waddington (19½), apprentice pilot, lost their lives on 26th November 1939 in going to the assistance of a boathand after their pilot boat had stranded on Ainsdale Beach, near Southport. The wind was of gale force, with heavy squalls and enormous seas, and it was very dark. After the boat stranded, two motor punts and a pulling punt were lowered and secured on the lee side, to be ready in case of emergency. Some time later, the pulling punt, with one occupant, broke adrift. Horswell and Waddington set out in the larger of the two motor punts, and got the boat in tow, but, when still about 20 yards from the pilot boat, someone cried "This engine is conking out," and the two punts disappeared in a heavy sea. After obtaining the captain's permission, Lancaster accompanied by Tully, went off to the rescue in the lower-powered motor punt, but he and his companion also were drowned.

The Liverpool Daily Post, 27 November 1939, reported that 22 men were lost in the Mersey when Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Pilot Boat No. 1 - the Charles Livingstone - ran ashore at Ainsdale, near Southport, during a heavy gale on 26 November 1939. It reported that of the 33 men on board, 22 were killed, one was missing and 10 were rescued. Lifeboats from Blackpool, Lytham, New Brighton, Hoylake and Rhyl were all involved in the rescue operations.

With the typescript - Formal Investigation into the loss of the Liverpool Pilot Boat “Charles Livingston”, the five days proceedings, bound in two volumes; with copied research.