Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Frank Escombe, 29 May 1869) with silver buckle on ribbon, contact marks, nearly very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

View
Collection

‘Statement of the circumstances attending the assistance by Mr Frank Escombe, in the rescue from drowning, in Yokohama, in Japan, of three persons on the 29th May, 1869: viz., John Kiddie Black, H. J. Black, and a Japanese seudo or boatman.

“The occurrence took place in the Yokohama Roadstead, in about four fathoms water, the wind blowing fresh. Harry James Black, the son, had been knocked overboard, from a small schooner (pilot boat), by the giving of the mizen spanker; the father went in and supported him for some time, until the seudo, seeing no assistance at hand, jumped in and swam to their assistance. Being a strong swimmer, the father, who had all his heavy woollen clothes on, and was pretty tired, gave the boy up to the seudo, but he, not being able to support him, seized hold of the father’s hands to preserve his own life. At this time Mr Escombe, who was in a cutter that was competing in a sailing-match, threw himself into the water and swam to the assistance of the three; he had a considerable distance to swim, but arrived in time to render effectual assistance, by taking the little boy: the seudo, not immediately recovering himself even when he had but himself to look to, then seized hold of Mr Escombe, but fortunately a boat by this time arrived, and all were saved. Mr Escombe’s arrival was so timely, that had he not come when he did the boat would have been too late.”’ (ref. Acts of Gallantry: R.H.S. Case No. 18,436). With copied rescue details.