Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (James Woodgate, C.G. 10, Sept 1867) very fine £140-180

James Woodgate was born in Beer, Devon, c.1825. Service in the Royal Navy (?) resulted in the award of the Crimea Medal with two clasps and Turkish Crimea Medal. As a Commissioned Boatman of the Coastguard at Dover, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for saving the life of Mary Jane License, aged 31/2, who had fallen into the sea. Woodgate jumped into the sea from the Stone Jetty, East Cliff, Dover - some 18 to 20 feet, to effect the rescue.

As Coxswain of the Dover Lifeboat, he was twice awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal. The first time in December 1891, in consideration of his 21 years service; the second in December 1893 for his part in saving survivors from the Norwegian barque Johanne Marie which had gone aground on a sandbank at Lade, north of Dungerness. Kent.

With copied research, including a photocopied photograph of the recipient wearing all four of his medals.