Three: Chief Officer E. Fippin, H.M. Coastguard, late Royal Navy

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (E. Fippin, Boy 1Cl., H.M.S. Active 73-74); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (E. Fippin, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Ernest Tipping (sic), H.M. Coast Guard, 30 July 1884) with second award clasp, ‘29th July 1890’, mounted for display, note variation in surname, first two with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £550-650

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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Ernest Fippin was born on 15 May 1856. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1872. He served on H.M.S. Active, July 1873-April 1877, being promoted to Ordinary Seaman in June 1874 and Able Seaman in August 1876. Fippin was promoted to Leading Seaman in December 1880 when on H.M.S. Invincible and to Petty Officer 2nd Class when on the same ship in November 1881. Transferring to the Coast Guard as a Boatman in November 1882; he was advanced to Commissioned Boatman in September 1886. Based at Leith, he was appointed Chief Boatman in October 1893 and Chief Boatman-in-Charge in March 1894. Appointed Chief Officer at Inverness in March 1904.

Awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze for a rescue in 1884 (R.H.S. Case No. 22551) when he was a Boatman, H.M. Coast Guard, at Pennan, near Fraserburgh, Scotland. The rescue took place at Torpoint Ferry, Devonport, 30 July 1884. A boy, Ernest E. Reep, aged 9 years, of 33 Macey Street, Torpoint, fell overboard from a small boat whilst sculling across the harbour, 20 yards from shore, 12 feet deep. Fipping, who was one of the crew of the galley (Lord Warden) which was waiting for the captain, immediately jumped overboard, swam to the drowning boy and rescued him.

Six years later, as a Boatman, H.M. Coast Guard, at Sandhaven, he was awarded a clasp to his medal (R.H.S. Case No. 25,068). On 29 July 1890, at Sandhaven, a boy, George Mitchell, aged 6 years, 6 months, was fishing from the stern of a boat when he fell overboard and the tide swept him seawards, 30 yards from shore, 10 feet deep. Fipping jumped into the boat, 9 feet from the top of a wall, and then dived in after the child and brought him safely out.’

With copied service papers and R.H.S. award details.