Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday Medal for Valour, 36mm, silver, the reverse inscribed ‘Presented to Snowden Davis for his gallantry in saving the life of a boy named Harrison from drowning in the Tyne on March 25th. 1887.’, with straight bar suspension; together with an Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday Sloper’s Club Membership Token (The Sloperian Token), bronze, the reverse numbered ‘3079’ and pierced for ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine, rare (2) £300-£400

‘The Sloper Medal for Valour has this day been presented to Snowden Davis for his gallantry in saving the life of a boy named Harrison from drowning in the Tyne on March 25th, 1887. The following is a short account of the heroic act:
“Snowden Davis, a youth of eighteen, saved the life of a boy of six, named Harrison, from drowning in the the Tyne, at Newcastle, on the 25th March. Davis, finding the child had been carried about 200 yards down the river by a strong tide, ran down a road at the side, climbed over a gate, jumped from a high pile of timber, and swam with the boy a hundred yards against the tide before a boat came to his assistance. This is the seventh life saved by Davis, who has, in addition to the Sloper medal for Valour, received the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal and Clasp.’ (Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 7 May 1887).

‘Letter from Snowden Davis, 1 Shot Factory Lane, Newcastle-on-Tyne:
“Dear Mr. Sloper, I beg leave to return my heartfelt thanks for your very handsome present. I would like you to drop me a line to say if you desire me to wear it publicly. Yours truly, Snowden Davis.’ (Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 28 May 1887).


Membership of the Sloper’s Club was open to anyone who purchased the satirical magazine Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday for 12 consecutive weeks. Member’s received the ‘Sloperian Token’, which entitled them to visit the club at 99 Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, and were entitled to use the post-nominal letters M.O.S.C. (Member of Sloper’s Club). By September 1899 membership stood at 9,956 members.