Orders, Decorations and Medals

Board of Trade Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, V.R., large, silver (William Saffery, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea on the 7th March 1876) in case of issue, the lid bearing the name of the recipient, nearly extremely fine £400-500

‘The Arabia was at anchor off Penang on 7 March 1876, the night squally with rain and a flood tide running. A native butler, Afadjeo Peetoo, fell overboard into the water which was full of sharks, and being rendered insensible by striking his head against a railing in falling, would have been drowned or devoured in the time necessary to launch a boat, had not Saffery jumped in after him and kept his head above water until both were rescued by the ship’s cutter.’ (ref. The Sea Gallantry Medal, by R. J. Scarlett).

Chief Steward William Saffery, of the Arabia, was awarded the Board of Trade Gallantry Medal in Silver for the above rescue. He was presented with the medal in Calcutta on 10 March 1877.