Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Albert Medal Second Class for Land awarded to Able Seaman J. Ramsay, Royal Navy, for his gallantry in saving the life of a Royal Marine who had fallen onto the tracks just as a train was approaching the platform at Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station on 7 January 1908

Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, bronze and enamel, the reverse officially engraved ‘Presented by His Majesty to John Ramsay, for gallantry in saving life at Temple Meads Railway Station, Bristol, on the 7th January, 1908.’ on 1st Class riband, minor dinting to reverse, nearly extremely fine and a scarce ‘Land’ award to a serving sailor £6,000-£8,000

A.M. London Gazette 28 July 1908:
‘Early on the morning of the 7th January last, when the 12.57 a.m. down mail train was approaching Temple Meads Station, Bristol, a Marine, W. Howat, belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Donegal, fell from the platform. Howat’s perilous position was observed by Ramsay, who at once jumped down to his assistance. The approaching train was only about sixty feet distant at the time, but he succeeded, though at the imminent risk of his own life, in dragging the fallen man back to the platform as the train passed the spot.’

John Ramsay was born at Glasgow on 6 April 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 6 August 1901. He was advanced Able Seaman on 18 June 1903, and at the time of the gallant act for which he was awarded the Albert Medal Second Class was borne on the books of H.M.S. Vivid I. He was presented with his Albert Medal by H.M. King Edward VII on 21 July 1908. He was shore discharged on 5 April 1914, time expired, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day.

Ramsay was recalled to the service following the outbreak of the Great War, and served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, most notably H.M.S. Illustrious from 18 August 1914 to 26 November 1915. He was invalided out of the service on 22 November 1917.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient taken from The Fleet magazine, February 1909.