Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society, silver (John Murray Cunningham 1880) with double-dolphin suspension, silver buckle on ribbon, attempted erasure of naming details, otherwise good very fine £200-250

John Murray Cunningham was born in Barony, Lanarkshire on 5 September 1857. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st Class on the Aurora on 23 June 1874. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in September 1875 when on Royal Adelaide and to Blacksmiths’ Crew in August 1877 when on Indus. He served as Blacksmith’s Mate on Invincible, March 1878-January 1882, after which he was ranked as Armourer’s Crew, serving on the Superb, Royal Adelaide, Cambridge, Warrior and Shannon. His service on the Shannon ended on 19 March 1884 with the comment on his service sheet ‘Run’.

Cunningham was awarded the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society’s Silver Medal for a rescue off the coast of Egypt on 7 February 1880.

‘The Secretary drew the attention of the Committee to the gallant conduct of Captain The Hon. E. R. Fremantle R.N., C.B., C.M.G., of the “Invincible”, who during the recent passage of that ship from Alexandria to Aboukir Bay, and when she was steaming along at about six knots an hour, jumped overboard as he stood - cap, coat, boots etc., and strained every nerve in his attempt to save the life of a man who had fallen from the vessel. When he reached the spot where the man was last seen, his rescuer found him already some distance under water; having brought him to the surface heavily weighted as he was, he felt much exhausted, and had some difficulty in keeping the man’s head above water, till Sub Lieut. Charles H. H. Moore and Cunningham, blacksmith’s mate, jumped overboard to the assistance of both, and the boat arriving all were brought safely on board. ... it was proposed ... the gold medal of the Society should be presented to Captain Fremantle, and silver medals to Sub Lieut. Moore and blacksmith’s mate Cunningham, for their self-devotion in the cause of humanity on this occasion.’

With copied service paper and citation.