Medals from the collection of the late Mike Leahy

Royal National Lifeboat Institution, silver medal, G.IV.R. (Margaret Llewellyn, Voted 29 Apr. 1847) nearly very fine and very rare £350-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the collection of the late Mike Leahy.

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On the morning of the 21st October 1846, about five o’clock the Margaret, of Beaumaris, after vainly buffeting with the storm, got on shore under Penmaen-y-for point, in Fishguard bay. The crew, consisting of a master, a mate, and one seaman, sought a temporary security in the rigging; in this awful position the dreadful agony of despair gave energy to their calls for help - nor were these unheeded. Margaret Llewellyn, of the lower town, Fishguard, having heard their cries above the howling of the storm, soon espied their dreadful situation. Assisted by her sister Martha Llewellyn, William Griffiths and Thomas Phillips, they procured a rope, and with this attached to their bodies, they boldly faced the white crested breakers, towering as high as any which ever washed the Fern Island, and succeeded in bringing these three apparently doomed individuals safe to shore. Both Margaret and Martha Llewellyn were awarded the R.N.L.I. silver medal together with one sovereign each, whilst Griffiths and Phillips each received a reward of 10 shillings. The Royal Humane Society awarded its bronze medal to each of the sisters, together with a reward of £3 to Margaret and £2 to Martha.

Up until January 1979 only twenty women had been awarded medals by the R.N.L.I.