Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘Quiver’ Medal for Heroic Conduct in Saving Life, silver (John J. Gilbert 1897) incorrect ribbon, in case, nearly exstremely fine £600-700

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

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On the evening of 28 November 1897 a gale blew up, increasing to storm force overnight. The strong winds and heavy seas continued for several days. In the early hours of 2 December 1897, the Margate surf boat Friend to All Nations was called to assist the London fully rigged ship Persian Empire which had earlier been in collision with the Hartlepool steamship Carlisle City. As the surf boat with its crew of 13 reached the toe of Nayland Rock, a monster wave struck the boat, turned her over and capsized her. Some 15 minutes after this and oblivious to the fate of the Friend to All Nations, the National Lifeboat Quiver was launched and successfully made her way to assist the Persian Empire. Daybreak disclosed the sad fate of the Friend to All Nations as the wrecked boat and the bodies of the dead washed up on the shore. Of the 13 man crew, only four survived - John James “Jacko” Gilbert being one of the survivors.

The whole town of Margate was plunged into mourning. A national subscription was started to bring relief to the widows and orphans left behind. A funeral service was read over the nine coffins at St. John’s Church, Margate on 8 December - in a procession along the streets from The Parade to the church, the townsfolk turned out 3 or 4 deep and the procession itself was estimated to be composed of some 3,000 mourners.

The Quiver Magazine started life in 1865 as an illustrated Sunday paper. The magazine took a particular interest in acts of bravery, on land or sea, reported to it. It later started a fund which provided for several lifeboats named ‘Quiver’ as well as for a gallantry medal. Medals were awarded to all four survivors of the Margate Surf Boat Disaster. It is believed some 58 Quiver Medals were awarded.

(See The Quiver Medal by M. Leahy, L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 5, p.19 - 25; The Quiver Medals by Bill Fevyer, L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 23, p.4 - 32.) With copied research.