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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 268

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal, silver, Type 1 1824-62, obverse: head of King George IV facing left (Mr,, Stephen,, Hurry,, Voted,, 26,, April,, 1843,,), edge bruising, nearly extremely fine, with integral named silver band original eye and ring suspension, with leather case of issue by ´Alston & Hallam Jewellers 30 Bishopsgate St Within´ Estimate £ 400-450 The citation for the award, with Captain Stephen Hurry listed jointly with Captain John Glover and Master John Powell, reads: ´´18-19 February 1843: The brig Traveller was wrecked on Gunfleet Sand, off Harwich, Essex, on the 17th and was seen next morning by the two smacks Atlanta and New Gypsy, both of Colchester. She was breaking up fast and the crew had taken to the rigging. The gale continued all day with the sea running fearfully high; the smacks remained but were unable to do anything during that day or night. At daybreak on the 19th, the brig´´s crew were still to be seen in the rigging, so it was determined to attempt a rescue despite the fact that the sea had abated but little. A boat was launched from each smack, manned by Captains Glover and Hurry, John Powell, Master of the smack Lord Howe, and ten other men. After being buffeted for a considerable time they at length succeeded in reaching he wreck and took the whole crew from the rigging - six into the New Gypsy boat and four in the Atlanta boat. After clearing the Sand, they fell in with the steamer Gazelle, bound for London, and put the rescued men aboard her.´´

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