Orders, Decorations and Medals

Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, 5th type, silver (John Heron, A.B., S.S. “Speedwell” 6 March 1883) ‘double dolphin’ suspension, suspension claw slack, nearly extremely fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 94.

S.F.M.R.B.S. Records:

‘Lyon, George, Mate, Steam Fishing Cutter Speedwell; Herring, John, Second Hand. (Heron?); Holt, Thomas, Third Hand; Chapman, Philip, Deck Hand; and Reynolds, Thomas, Master’.

‘A boat from the Steam Fishing Cutter Speedwell rescued the crews of the Smacks Harrier and Premier (ten Fishermen in all), during a heavy gale, off the Dogger Bank, on the 6th March, 1883’.

‘The above were awarded the Society’s Silver Medals. Also to the Mate George Lyon, as having taken charge of the Speedwell's boat in both instances, one of the Society's Marine Aneroid Presentation Barometers for Fishermen’.

‘The Committee, further, made a special record of the humane conduct on this occasion, of the late Master of the Speedwell (Reynolds), who unfortunately lost his life subsequently, through being swept overboard by a heavy sea in the same gale, while courageously keeping his post after hurriedly warning the crew to jump below. To the late Master of the Speedwell, Thomas Reynolds, as a posthumous grant for presentation to his bereaved widow together with the sum of £5 the Society's Silver Medal; in memento of the deceased's exceptionally humane conduct upon the occasion of the service in question’.