Orders, Decorations and Medals

Rescue Medal, circular silver medal by Fattorini, Birmingham, obverse with leather facing inscribed in gilt lettering, ‘To Gilbert Torrance, Esq. from the Survivors of the “Glen Mona” Expedition, for extreme bravery shown in their rescue. July 29th, 1897’, 48mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1897, ring suspension, very fine and unusual £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Boddington Collection of Life Saving Medals.

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It is speculated that Gilbert Torrance, a Wine and Spirit Merchant, of Douglas on the Isle of Man, was awarded the medal by members of a party celebrating Her Majesty’s Jubilee on the gentle slopes of Glen Mona; who finding themselves unexpectedly short of alcohol, were ‘bravely rescued’ from the terrible fate of their enforced abstinence by Mr Torrance! Sold with copied research.