The Jack Boddington Collection of Life Saving Medals

Fleetwood Diamond Jubilee Medal 1897, obv. bust of Queen Victoria left; rev. Fleetwood coat-of-arms (Fred Bettess for saving 18 lives in one trip, at Fleetwood, Ju ... 97) naming partially obscured by the suspension, 39mm., bronze, straight bar suspension; together with a commemorative Jubilee Medal, 32mm., bronze, unmounted, good very fine (2) £100-140

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

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Fred Bettess was born in Padstowe, Cornwall in 1846 and later settled in Thornton-in-Fylde, near Fleetwood, Lancashire, where he became a member of the crew of the Fleetwood Station lifeboat. During a severe storm on 18 June 1897, he served aboard the lifeboat Maud Pickup, which rescued five from the Zillah, three from the Svallorn and nine from the Loniso, plus one other for a total of 18. For these rescues all fifteen men of the Maud Pickup were awarded special medals which had originally been struck by the town of Fleetwood to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The medals were adapted by engraving a suitable inscription around the edge. Sold with copied research and several copied photographs of ‘old Fleetwood’ and one believed to be that of the recipient.