The Jack Boddington Collection of Life Saving Medals

A Sea Gallantry Medal group of three awarded to John Taylor of Margate

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, silver (John Taylor, Wreck of the “Druid” on the 19th November 1893), fitted with a (slack) claw and ring suspension, in damaged case, slight edge bruising and some contact marks; Life Saving Medal, obv. inscribed, ‘Presented by Revd. B. Brigg and Friends to John Taylor for the Gallant Rescue off Margate, Nov. 19th 1893’, rev. laurel wreath, 32mm., silver, ring suspension, with silver brooch bar, in original case; Coronation 1902, an unofficial 38mm., bronze medal, unnamed, ring suspension, nearly very fine and better (3) £500-560

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Boddington Collection of Life Saving Medals.

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On 18 October 1893 the coast of Kent was being battered by a gale from the N.N.E. In the heavy seas, the brigantine Druide of Cardiff, sailing from Cherbourg, became stranded off Margate. The regular coxswain of the R.N.L.I. lifeboat Quiver, John Fox, was ill, and the Second Coxswain, E. Emptage refused to go out on to the raging seas. The Hon. Secretary of the R.N.L.I. then placed the Quiver in charge of Bowman J. Knight, with lifeboatman H. Jones as crew. They put out into the bay but were repeatedly beaten back by the frightful seas and returned to the harbour. Another attempt was made but the boat became waterlogged and had to return again to the pierhead. It was then discovered, on inspection of the boat, that the Second Coxswain had allowed her to go to sea without having secured the deck plates. She was pumped dry, the valves shut and plates secured, and a third attempt made to reach the stricken Druide but she was unable to get away and in great difficulty anchored near the Nayland Rock. (Subsequently the District Inspector held an inquiry into the case and it was found that but for the gross neglect on the part of the Second Coxswain (E. Emptage), the Quiver would have been able to reach the Druide. Emptage was immediately suspended and later resigned his position). The Druide dragging on her anchors narrowly missed striking the jetty but grounded on the rocks opposite Fort Point. The Ramsgate lifeboat under tow from a steam tug now came on to the scene but was unable to approach the Druide as she was so close to land and so returned to Ramsgate. At about 10.30, Albert Emptage, master of the Moss Rose, one of Margate’s pleasure yachts, gathered some of the boatman about him and asked for volunteers to man the skiff from the Moss Rose and effect the rescue of the crew of the Druide. Five men quickly volunteered - Edward Whitehead, George Sandwell, John Cox, John Taylor and Arthur Twyman. The yacht’s skiff, a seaworthy 22 foot boat, was launched from the jetty amidst cheers from the hundreds of onlookers. Battling against wind, tide and surf, the boat slowly but surely made its way to the Druide. Receiving a line from the ship, they were able to haul themselves sufficiently close for the crew of five from the Druide to drop into the skiff. The skiff, bearing both rescuers and rescued then returned safely to shore to the cheers of the crowd.

All six members of the skiff were awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal for their heroism. On learning of the brave rescue, several letters were received by the editor of the Keble’s Margate and Ramsgate Gazette transmitting subscriptions for the ‘fearless and heroic men’ of the Moss Rose’s skiff. A local minister, the Rev. B. Brigg, coordinated and augmented the donations and from the money each of the six received a silver medal for the rescue.

In 1926 John Taylor participated in another rescue. As a crew member of the M.B. Thanet Queen, he rescued two from a boat drifting in high seas. For his heroism he was awarded an engraved watch (not included in the lot) and a Testimonial.

The Testimonial reads, ‘This Testimonial together with a solid silver engraved watch publicly subscribed for was presented to Mr J. Taylor in recognition of his gallantry, when comprising one of the crew of the Motor-Boat “Thanet Queen” on May 16th 1926, he set out in a very heavy sea and effected an heroic rescue of two lives from a small drifting boat’.

Sold with the Testimonial - this damaged, a photograph of the crew of the Thanet Queen, copied extracts from the Keble’s Margate and Ramsgate Gazette; copied extracts from the Quiver Magazine, and other research.