Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

A Netherlands Life Saving group of four awarded to Assistant Mechanic J. W. Harris, R.N.L.I. Torbay Lifeboat, for his gallantry in saving one of the crew of the Dutch tug Cycloop off Torquay on 7 December 1959

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Netherlands, Kingdom, Bronze Medal of Honour for Gallantry in Saving Life, the reverse engraved ‘J. W. Harris’, in Royal Mint, Utrecht, case of issue, extremely fine, the last extremely rare to a non-Dutch national (4) £240-£280

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

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7 December 1959: In response to a call for help from a drifting lighter, the Barnet class Torbay lifeboat Princess Alexandra of Kent launched at 9.35 pm in overcast conditions with frequent fierce rain squalls and a south-east whole gale. The Dutch tug Cycloop, sheltering in Tor Bay with three lighters, had cut one adrift after her propeller became fouled by its rope. When Coxswain Thomas arrived, he found the lighter aground, half a mile south of Torquay; on board were two men with a cargo of steel pipes. In spite of heavy seas sweeping the length of the lighter, one of the men and a small dog jumped into the lifeboat, but the other, older man hesitated and lost his chance. No amount of manoeuvring could bring the lifeboat into a suitable position for his rescue. He took hold of a rope but dropped into the sea and was hauled unconscious on board by boathook. Members of the lifeboat crew tried to revive him with artificial respiration, but without success.
For this action the Royal National Lifeboat Institution awarded its Silver Medal to Coxswain H. O. Thomas; a ‘Third Service’ clasp to its Bronze Medal to Mechanic R. T. Harris; and its Thanks on Vellum to the remaining six crew members of the Princess Alexandra of Kent, including James Winsor Harris. (Lifeboat Gallantry by Barry Cox refers).

Coxswain H. O. Thomas was also awarded the Dutch Silver Medal of Honour for Gallantry in Saving Life; and the other seven crew members, including James Winsor Harris, were all awarded the Dutch Bronze Medal of Honour for Gallantry in Saving Life.

James Winsor Harris was born in Devonport in 1909, the son of Chief Petty Officer J. M. Harris. A Taxi Driver and later Radio Dealer living in Brixham, he served as the Assistant Mechanic on the crew of the R.N.L.I. Torbay Lifeboat. Called out on the evening of 7 December 1959 to assist the Dutch tug Cycloop the Torbay Lifeboat successfully rescued a member of the crew resulting in the R.N.L.I. recognising all the crew members’ efforts on the night, with the Dutch authorities awarding the Netherlands Bronze Medal of Honour for Gallantry in Saving Life under Royal Decree. He died at Brixham on 22 June 199, aged 83, and in accordance with his wishes his ashes were scattered at sea from the Torbay Lifeboat.

Sold with together with the recipient’s original Netherlands Bronze Medal of Honour for Gallantry in Saving Life award certificate mounted on board; the recipient’s original R.N.L.I. Formal Thanks on Vellum Certificate mounted on board; and copied research, including a photograph of the Lifeboat crew.

For the recipient’s father’s medals, see the previous lot, Lot 146.