Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful), (Robert Lawrence. A.B. 3rd July 1877.) complete with top suspension buckle, two small edge bruises, otherwise lightly polished, good very fine £240-£280

R.H.S. Case No. 20199: Silver medals to Lieut. James Brant, R.N., and Able Seaman R. Lawrence, R.N., both of H.M.S. Research.

‘When off Port Said, on 3rd July, 1877, a cry of “Man overboard!” was raised on board H.M.S. Research. Engines were at once stopped and reversed, when Henry Godwin, A.B., drifted past, just under water, with one hand raised. At this moment Brant jumped overboard from the hammock netting, followed by Lawrence. They both swam towards Godwin, who was still under water. At this moment a middle sized hammer-headed shark was observed fifteen or twenty yards from the men, swimming rapidly, the three men in the water drifted about four hundred yards astern, where they were picked up by the life-boat. Godwin’s life was most undoubtedly saved by the two men, as all three were thoroughly exhausted when brought on board.’

Robert Lawrence was born at Manchester on 3 February 1856, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 1 January 1873, aboard Ganges. He rose to Boy 1st Class in May 1873 and to Ordinary Seaman in March 1874, joining H.M.S. Research on 4 August 1874. He was rated Able Seaman on 1 August 1875, and, after a brief transfer to Hibernia between 17 August and 9 November 1873, he returned to Research, in which he remained until 2 August 1879. On 25 March 1879, whilst still in Research and having attained advancement to Petty Officer 2nd Class, he was reduced to Able Seaman and with only a “Good” character, but what misdemeanour brought this about is not recorded. He left the ship for Royal Adelaide on 2 August 1879. Two months later, on 4 October, he deserted in Devonport and his record of service has no further entries, implying that he was never recovered. Sold with copied record of service and other research.