Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Tynemouth Trust Medal, silver, reverse inscribed (part engraved) ‘Awarded to Bombardier James Law, (R.A.) for Bravery in Saving Life at Sea’, with ornate silver top riband bar and wearing pin, minor edge bruise to obverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine £300-£400

James Law was awarded the Tynemouth Trust Medal for attempting to save the life of a man who was drowned in the North Sea. The events were later described in detail by the Dundee Evening Telegraph on 1 December 1896:

‘Sad Drowning Case at Tynemouth - Gallant Conduct by Artillerymen
Yesterday a painful drowning case occurred at Tynemouth. It appears that some artillerymen stationed in Tynemouth Castle observed a man fully attired in the sea opposite the Castle fort. Two of them - namely, Quartermaster-Sergeant William H. Sidwell and Bombardier Law - slid down the face of the cliff, and plunged into the sea to attempt the rescue. Sidwell, however, became exhausted, and had to be dragged ashore, while Law was dashed upon the rocks by the heavy waves but managed to scramble out of the water. The man they went to rescue was carried by the current to the Short Sands, where another artilleryman - Gunner William Ritchie - plunged into the sea and succeeded in bringing the man ashore, but life was found to be extinct. The body was removed to the mortuary in Tynemouth Haven, where it was identified as that of Mr. Robert Tailford, 40 years of age, Manager at Hill’s Copper Works, Walker, who resided at 1, Bath Terrace, Tynemouth.’