Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The silver R.N.L.I. medal with ‘Second Service’ bar awarded to William Callow, Coxswain of the Castletown, Isle of Man Lifeboat, for many rescues conducted over a period of 36 years as Coxswain and Second Coxswain

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, V.R., silver (Mr. William Callow. Voted 3rd June 1886) with ‘Second Service’ bar, the reverse engraved ‘Voted 12th Feby. 1891’, with uniface ‘double dolphin’ suspension, extremely fine £1,600-£2,000

Silver Medal voted 3 June 1886: ‘In recognition of his long and valuable services in the lifeboat, which included those to the lugger Nimrod and the schooner Eliza Ann (1861), the schooner Water Lily (1864), the schooners Maria and Vision (1868), the barque Junak (1877), the brigantine Eugenie Auguste (1882) and the schooner John Perry (1885).’

Bar for Second Service voted 12 February 1891: ‘For good services during the long period in which he had served as Coxswain. Since Coxswain Callow’s previous service award in 1886, he had participated in rescues involving the trawler Swift and the schooner Julia (1886) and the schooner Madryn (1889).’

William Callow joined the Lifeboat service at Castletown, Isle of Man, in 1855 and soon became Second Coxswain. The service rendered to the schooner Eliza Ann of Dublin on 23 November 1861, was the subject of a vivid report in The Monas Herald of 27 November:

‘Castletown Bay presented a fearful but magnificent spectacle during the storm; the waves rolled in like mountains, enveloping the rocks and the strand in foam. A vessel was seen in the offing driving before the sea, and would probably be the vessel which was seen off Douglas in distress. About three o'clock in the afternoon a messenger arrived from Derbyhaven for the Lifeboat, a schooner which had taken shelter in that bay in the morning having exhibited a flag of distress. The Lifeboat was quickly dispatched, under the superintendence of the Rev. E. Ferrier, Government chaplain, who accompanied the boat to Derbyhaven (the Rev. gentleman always takes a lively interest in the such matters). The gale raged at this time with such violence that it was impossible for human agency to row any description of boat against it; hence the Life boat was taken to the head of the Fort Island, where the crew dropped anchor, and drifted down towards the schooner. When they got alongside the schooner they found the crew (poor fellows !) about to commit themselves to the small boat, having launched it and put a few things into it. Had they put off from the schooner they must inevitably have perished, as it would have been impossible for a boat to have lived in the sea on such a rock-bound coast as lay to leeward. The vessel rode out the gale, as it moderated after high water.’

In 1863 William Callow was appointed Coxswain of the lifeboat and on 3 June 1886 he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Institute for long and distinguished service at the station. The Isle of Man Times reported the meeting of the local branch on 26 June at which the Honary Secretary, Mr G. H. Quayle informed those assembled there of the parent Societies vote to award the silver medal of the Institute with thanks on vellum to Coxswain Callow by reason of his 31 years service, 22 of which had been in the role of coxswain. 'Mr Callow was quite taken by surprise returned thanks in a few well chosen words'.

On 12 February 1891, Coxswain William Callow was awarded a second silver medal in recognition of his long service when he resigned as Coxswain after 29 years, and 7 years as 2nd Coxswain.