Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Carnegie Hero Fund Medallion, by Richard R. Goulden, struck by Messieurs. L Janvier & L. Berchot et Cie, Paris, the Hero, a winged angel behind him, both raise the lamp of life, ‘He Serves God Best Who Most Nobly Serves Humanity’; rev. a broad wreath of laurel enclosing legend, ‘For Heroic Endeavour to Save Human Life’, part date below, ‘19..’, with circumscription, ‘Presented by the Trustees of the Carnegie Hero Fund’, 89mm., bronze, unnamed, extremely fine, scarce £150-200

The Bronze Medallion is the highest award the Trustees can make and is only given in circumstances where the nature of the rescue is one of ‘outstanding heroism’ i.e. involving repeated or sustained endeavour. The more usual award is a Certificate and Citation which, in the past, was displayed in an oak-bound frame but nowadays, is presented in a leather-bound folder. A cash grant is also made. Depending on individual circumstances, the Trustees may also maintain continuing financial assistance to the person whose heroism was recognised or to their family. Although almost 8,000 cases of heroism have been recognised by the Trustees since the Trust was set up in 1908, only 174 medallions have been presented.

The medallion was designed in 1908 by Richard R. Goulden, Art Advisor to the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust. Goulden was born in Dover but lived in Dunfermline for two years and executed several commissions (as well as the Hero Fund Medallion) - the Ambition Statue, a fountain for the Glen and a statue of Andrew Carnegie also in the Glen. He also made a number of war memorials (including a plaque in Surbiton) and also sculpted a statue of St. Michael outside St. Michael’s Church, Cornhill, in the City of London.