Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Radio Officer John Mark Sutton, R.F.A.S., 8th Sept. 1957) mounted as worn, in Spink, London case of issue, edge bruise, good very fine £140-180

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

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The rescue took place in the sea off Christmas Island, Pacific Ocean, on 8 September 1957 and involved men serving on a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship.

‘On leaving the ship, Able Seaman George Edward Baxter was sat in the forward part of the Liberty Boat. As the boat was proceeding towards the shore, Baxter apparently decided to sit on the gunwhale of the boat, although he knew this was against the regulations. In doing so, he overbalanced and fell from the boat into the sea. Radio Officer John Mark Sutton dived overboard, swimming to Baxter’s assistance and kept him afloat until the Liberty Boat could be turned round and brought alongside the two men. Sutton dived into what was known to be shark infested sea, to the assistance of Baxter, who is a heavily built type of man and who was at the time in a state of panic. The total time Baxter was actually in the water may have been about five or six minutes. After being taken out of the water Baxter was conscious and violently sick.’ (R.H.S. Case No. 65,644). With R.H.S. copied extracts.