Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain of the Forecastle John Davy, Royal Navy

Abyssinia 1867-68 (J. Davy, Boy 1 Cl., H.M.S. Satellite) suspension refixed; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (John Davy, Capt. of Forecastle, H.M.S. Sparrowhawk, 22 July 1886) with bronze buckle on ribbon; together with a ‘Friendly Society’ Jewel, silver cross, unnamed, with a 1902 King Edward VII sixpence at its centre, with silver suspension, slip and top bars, inscribed, ‘D & MOEBS’, ‘Pres. to Sr M. A. Davy, President 1905-07’, ‘Princess Alexandria No. 18’, good very fine (3) £380-420

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

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John Davy was born in Totnes, Devon on 16 December 1850. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on H.M.S. Impregnable on 24 June 1865. He served on H.M.S. Satellite, December 1867-December 1870, qualifying for the Abyssinia Medal and being advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class in January 1869. He was promoted to Able Seaman when on H.M.S. Daphne in September 1872. Davy was promoted to Leading Seaman in September 1875 when on H.M.S. Royal Adelaide; to Petty Officer 2nd Class in July 1876 when on H.M.S. Endymion and Petty Officer 1st Class in August 1878 when on H.M.S. Cruiser. He was rated as Captain of the Forecastle when on H.M.S. Sparrowhawk in September 1885 and Quartermaster in September 1888 when on Royal Adelaide. Quartermaster Davy was pensioned ashore from H.M.S. Impregnable on 23 February 1889.

Davy as Captain of the Forecastle serving on H.M.S. Sparrowhawk, at great personal risk, rescued Nathaniel Johnson, aged 28 years, from drowning, at Barbados, West Indies, on 22 July 1886. Johnson, under the influence of liquor, was in difficulties in the water. Davy jumped off a bridge opposite the ship (a height of 12 feet) and swam about 30 yards and although Johnson struggled, he succeeded in bringing him ashore. For this rescue he was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze (R.H.S. Case No. 23,293).

With copied R.H.S. and service details and roll extract.