Life Saving, Police and Fire Brigade Medals from the James N Spencer Collection

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (Joseph Renowden, voted 24 Dec. 1828), pierced with ring suspension, good very fine £280-340

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Life Saving, Police and Fire Brigade Medals from the James N Spencer Collection.

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7 - 8 December 1828: ‘In stormy weather the Belfast brig Veronica was driven ashore on the sands outside Inch Bar in Dingle Bay, Co. Kerry, Ireland, while on passage from Liverpool to Charlestown, U.S.A. The vessel soon became a total wreck, and her crew and a passenger were forced to take to the rigging with the mountainous seas breaking over them. It was impossible for rescuers to get near her and, after a short time, the wreck was driven into deeper water where it sank with the mainmast gone, her foretop out of the water with all survivors clinging to it. The Coastguard four oared gig launched and got clear, but filled and had to be bailed out. Still she managed to take on board the brig’s Master, Mate, Second Mate, Carpenter, 13 seamen and a passenger. The gig then paddled or drifted to the shore, a journey lasting two and a half hours, which ended with the gig being overturned and everybody having to be recovered from the surf.’

Joseph Renownden was one of five Boatmen of H.M. Coastguard, Minnard, to be awarded the silver medal for this action.