Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, V.R., silver (Mr. George Kyle Voted 3rd. April 1879) with uniface double dolphin suspension, in R.N.L.I. leather case of issue, extremely fine £500-£700

J. B. Hayward Collection, Spink, November 1995.

George Kyle, Assistant Coxswain, and Matthew Kyle, Coxswain, Holy Island Lifeboat, were both awarded the R.N.L.I. silver medal ‘in acknowledgement of their long and gallant services in saving lives from shipwreck.’

The specific citation reads:
‘20th March 1879: The S.S. Darlington was wrecked at False Emmanuel Head, Holy Island, during a fog and heavy sea. The Holy Island No. 1 lifeboat Grace Darling saved nine men from the wreck.’

The screw steamer Darlington, 169 tons, was built at Stockton in 1871, owned by W. Robertson, and traded regularly between Dundee, her home port, and Liverpool.

Sold with copied research.