Port of Plymouth Humane Society bronze cross, reverse inscribed ‘Port of Plymouth Humane Society Awarded Arthur Matthews for rescuing A. Pengelly 18 April 1921’, with integral top bronze riband buckle, in fitted case of issue, extremely fine £160-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Dix Noonan Webb, December 2010.

‘The cries of a drowning man in the sea a few yards from Plymouth Pier, early yesterday afternoon, were heard by Percy Rashbrook, Portland Road, Stoke, and Arthur Matthews, Albany Place, who immediately rushed to his assistance. Matthews promptly dived from the rocks and, with the help of his companion, brought the unconscious man ashore. He recovered after nearly an hour’s artificial respiration had been applied by officers of the George Street Ambulance Brigade and a police constable. At the Homeopathic Hospital it transpired that he was William Alfred Pengelly, age 40, a labourer, of Moon Street, Plymouth.’ (The Western Morning News and Mercury, 19 April 1921 refers).

Arthur Ernest Matthews was born at Morice Town, Plymouth, on 5 March 1904, and in the 1921 Census he is recorded as residing at 5 Albany Place, Plymouth aged 17, a Drapers Assistant employed by Welsh Brothers, Credit Drapers, Coburg Street, Plymouth. He dived from the rocks near Plymouth Pier to rescue William Arthur Pengelly on 18 April 1921 and was awarded the Bronze Cross and Certificate by the Port of Plymouth Humane Society. He died in Plymouth on 17 December 1993, aged 89.

Sold with copied research.