Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Duncan Leitch, H.M.S. Cornopus [sic] 9, Octr 1867.) with integral bronze riband buckle, in Harrington, London, case of issue, nearly extremely fine £120-£160

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

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R.H.S. Case No. 18,057: ‘At 6.30 p.m. on 9 October 1867 In the Hamoaze 9 Fathoms deep. Rescued Thomas Keast and Andrew Gibney both aged 30. Duncan Leitch, Ships Corporal H.M.S. Canopus jumped overboard from ships launch with all clothes on and kept the two men up till assistance came.’

Duncan Leitch was born in Glasgow in 1835 and enlisted at Liverpool into the Royal Marines on 22 January 1855, being posted to Chatham Division 103rd Company. Transferring to Plymouth Division, Private onboard H.M.S. Royal Albert on 25 January 1861, he was promoted Corporal and then Sergeant on 6 November 1862. Court Martialled he lost one year’s pay and was reduced to Private on 24 August 1864. Passing for Ships Corporal he joined the Naval Police on 23 November 1866 embarking in H.M.S. Canopus the following day. The Ship’s Log for H.M.S. Canopus for 9 October 1867 records ‘P.M. Sent working Party of 23 men to Keyham’; it was whilst escorting this working party that Ship’s Corporal D. Leitch carried out the rescue for which he was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal. He was discharged to shore at Portsmouth on 29 May 1896.

Sold with copied service records and other research.