Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (Mr Robt. Kirkpatrick Thompson, Voted 15 Decr. 1830) pierced, fitted with a replacement scroll suspension, some edge bruising and contact marks, about very fine £400-500

Robert Kirkpatrick Thompson was Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard at Clogher Head, Co. Louth, Ireland.

‘20 November 1830: Across the Irish Sea, violent weather was causing trouble at Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland, where the brig Raven had grounded at night near the bar on the River Boyne. Mr Thompson and a crew of fishermen double banked the oars of a country boat and put out. They succeeded in taking off the brig’s crew, the Master and four men, who had been in the rigging for several hours.’ Ref: Lifeboat Gallantry, by Barry Cox.