Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (successful) (Henry Skelton, A.B., H.M.S. Tortoise Vit. ob Serv. D.D. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 13 Decr. 1853), fitted with official ring suspension and in Warrington, London fitted case of issue, some contact marks, therefore very fine £400-£500

‘On Tuesday, the 13th December 1853, at the Island of Ascension, a boy named William Coombes, while fishing, was seized with a fit and fell into the sea; when in the water, and lying at the bottom, his head was observed to be underneath a large projecting cliff, and it therefore required a great deal of exertion to rescue him from such a dangerous situation, when Henry Skelton, a Seaman of H.M.S. Tortoise, who had been employed at work near the spot, heard a noise, ran out and gallantly jumped into the sea, dived, and in a few moments succeeded in rescuing the boy from a watery grave’ (Acts of Gallantry, by Lambton Young refers).

Sold with the original parchment certificate of award, this stained around the edges.