The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer

Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, a privately commissioned medal, obverse: a finely engraved scene of ladders being used to effect a rescue at the scene of a fire; reverse inscribed, ‘Presented to Joseph Arkell by Mr E. Bodger of Hatton Garden for his intrepid conduct in rescuing 26 lives at a fire at Mr Kitchen, Leather Lane, March 25th, 1859’, 51mm., silver, hallmarks for London, fitted with a loop and ring and ornate suspension and brooch bar, good very fine, rare £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 155.

The medal and details concerning it appeared the ‘Noticeboard’ section of the L.S.A.R.S. Journal No. 8, p.40-43. It reads:

‘.... In 1852 Joseph Arkell (spelled Arkyll in the Society’s records) had been promoted from supernumery and by 1859 he was the conductor of escape ladder no. 19 stationed at Holborn Circus. The fire in Leather Lane was obviously serious if 26 people had to be saved, all by means of an escape ladder, but despite the number of persons rescued there appear to have been doubts about Arkyll’s actions. The Society’s minutes of 7 April 1859, case 5002, record that the sum of £5 should be shared among four police constables who assisted in the rescue, one of whom had also called the escape. But that further reward recommendation for Arkyll was deferred for further investigation, ‘.... as to whether the exertions required of him were such as entitled him to a silver medal’. Obviously these enquiries were satisfactory, for the minutes of the next meeting held on 29 April 1859 confirm that Arkyll should be awarded the Society’s silver medal. Also each of the four policemen concerned was to receive a testimonial on vellum. ....’

Escape Conductor Joseph Arkyll was awarded the Society’s Silver Medal by the Lord Mayor on 3 July 1859. The above medal would appear to be a privately commissioned piece, presented to Arkell by Mr Bodger whose property backed onto those in Leather Lane.

Sold with copied research.