Orders, Decorations and Medals

R.S.P.C.A. Life Saving Medal, silver (R. E. M. Thomas Kneale, R.N. 1964) complete with ‘For Humanity’ top suspension brooch, good very fine £120-140

An unusual award for rescuing Welsh Mountain sheep by helicopter in 1964. The following details were published in The Animal World, July 1964:

‘On the winter morning of February 17, the discovery was made that 38 Welsh Mountain sheep were scattered over the cliffs at Tre-Seissyllt Farm, St Nicholas, Pembrokeshire. The owner, Captain Carlisle, telephoned Chief Inspector Marsh, who notified Chief Inspector Smith, and these two RSPCA officers visited the farm with rescue equipment.

On their arrival they found that three sheep had already been rescued from a ledge about 60 feet from the top, with a drop of 150 feet below to the sea. The sheep were crowded together and in danger of falling. The rescue already performed had been done by 19-year-old Peter Firebrace, a farm student, who had gone down on a rope, caught the sheep, and individually roped them. One by one the sheep were hauled to the top. Throughout the rescue operation Peter Firebrace was in constant danger from pieces of loose rock which were crumbling from the cliff face.

Attempts were made to herd the main body of the sheep to positions where they would be able to make their own way back to the top. The arduous task of climbing round the cliffs was carried out by Captain Carlisle, Mr George Taylor, the farm foreman, and by Peter Firebrace. In the process five more sheep fell on to a ledge where it was considered too great a risk for anyone to reach them.

The following day, members of the Pembrokeshire Fire Brigade came to help, along with a helicopter from the Royal Naval Air Station at Brawdy. The helicopter was piloted by Lieutenant Ian Lachlan, who was accompanied by REM (1) Thomas Mortimer Kneale. An attempt was made to force the sheep round the dangerous point by the noise of the engines but this was unsuccessful, as also was the firing of Verey Lights. Mr Kneale then lowered himself on a 60 foot rope while the pilot skilfully manoeuvred the helicopter. Mr Kneale made several attempts at driving the sheep round the point and collided with the cliffs on three occasions. In the end he successfully accomplished his task by manhandling the sheep individually. This was a courageous and difficult job to perform on the end of a rope. As a result of this rescue all the sheep were taken from inaccessible positions.

For his courage, Mr Kneale has received the RSPCA’s silver medal. The Society’s bronze medal has gone to Lieutenant Lachlan and to Peter Firebrace, and the Council of the RSPCA has written letters of appreciation to the Pembrokeshire Fire Brigade and to Mr George Taylor.’