The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A R.N.I.P.L.S. pair awarded to Lieutenant Frederick Henslow, Royal Navy, H.M. Coastguard, Dungeness, latterly a Naval Knight of Windsor

Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (Lieut. Fredk. Henslow R.N., Voted 30 Sep. 1832) pierced with ring suspension; Belgium, Order of Leopold, Knight’s breast badge with swords, silver, gold and enamel, with ‘Espagnol’ type crown (inst. 1832), last with minor chipping to green enamel wreath, otherwise nearly extremely fine (2) £650-750

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Ex John Hayward Collection of Lifesaving Medals, Spink, 7 November 1995.

Frederick John Francis Henslow entered the Royal Navy on 22 August 1811, passed his examination in 1819 and was appointed a Lieutenant aboard the Java, flagship of the East Indies Squadron, in March 1829. He returned to England in 1830 and was employed with the coastguard service until 1833. On 27 August 1832 he was involved in a rescue off Dungerness.

‘A large American ship, the Richmond, was in distress in a gale and thumping on the ground near Fort Moncrieff Station, Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent. Nearby the Ostend brig Osiris was seen to be drifting on her beam ends. Lieutenant Stuart, R.N., with his crew of nine men, then dragged a punt and a galley two miles to reach a point closer to the two ships. The punt capsized when launched. Lieutenant Stuart then saw the Osiris strike: the crew got away to the Richmond. Meanwhile, the Institution lifeboat stationed at No. 27 Tower, Dymchurch, had been launched by Lieutenant Henslow and six Coastguardmen. They reached the Richmond, but the Master refused assistance. The ten crew of the Osiris were taken in to the lifeboat and landed safely at Fort Montcrieff Station where they were looked after by Lieutenant Stuart.’

For his services in rescuing the crew of the Belgian ship, Lieutenant Henslow, R.N. was awarded the R.N.I.P.L.S. Silver Medal and the Knight’s badge of the Belgian Order of Leopold. The award of this Order which was instituted in July 1832 was one of the earliest to an Englishman. In September 1833 he was appointed to command the revenue cutter Rose, a position he held until October 1836. On 16 September 1841 he was made a Naval Knight of Windsor. With copied research.