Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Ernest Bury. R.N. Aug. 26. 1900) lacking integral bronze riband buckle, suspension slack, worn, good fine £100-£140

R.H.S. Case No. 31041:

‘In getting a boat out two lads were thrown into the water there being a strong tide running. Sailor went in the dinghy and saved one. He then dived in, caught the other and rescued him.’

Committee Meeting notes give the recipient as serving as a Petty Officer with H.M.S. Victory, one of the boys as Thomas E. Hooper, and the incident as taking place at 8.15am, 26 October [sic] 1900, in Portsmouth Harbour.

Ernest Bury was born in Southampton, Hampshire in January 1870. He joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class in December 1885. Bury advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class and was in fact serving with H.M.S. Victorious (battleship) at the time of the rescue. He was Shore Pensioned, and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve in January 1910. His papers give his entitlement to an L.S. & G.C. and list his re-engagement for service for the Great War as well as ‘interned in Holland after retreat from Antwerp.’