Medals from the collection of the late Mike Leahy

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal, Silver, 1st type, 54 mm, frosted finish, framed and glazed, the silver rim inscribed (Presented to Mr. Jas. Tweedie, Master of the Gilbert Henderson, for Jumping overboard & saving a Child from Drowning in the Southern Ocean, April, 1840) the silver rim bruised and possibly repaired, otherwise the medal nearly extremely fine £200-250

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 23rd of April, 1840, as the convict ship ‘Gilbert Henderson’ was on her way to Van Dieman’s Land, a child of one of the convicts, named Julia Lackey, fell overboard. Mr. James Tweedie, Master of the ship, instantly ordered the ship to be brought to, and jumped overboard from the poop, swam to the child, who had floated considerably astern of the ship, and kept it above water until a boat was lowered from the ship, into which Mr. Tweedie and the child were taken. The child was ultimately restored to animation.’

Captain James Tweedie was granted the silver medal of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, and also the Honorary Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society.