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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 356

A Rare Royal Humane Society and Northern Review Order of the Silver Shield Pair to Mr. A.R. Curson, For Gallantry in Rescuing a Child From Middlesbrough Dock, 4.9.1892; Although Suffering From Pneumonia, Curson, On Hearing of the Accident, Immediately 'Threw Aside His Blankets, And Pluckily Plunged Into the Water'
Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, successful (Arthur R. Curson, 4th. September, 1892.), with integral top bronze riband buckle, in Warrington, London, fitted case of issue; Northern Review Order of the Silver Shield, Knight's breast Badge, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1892), reverse engraved 'Presented to Knight A.R. Curson, in recognition of his bravery in Rescueing [sic] a Child in the Middlesbro Dock. Sep. 4 1892.', with riband emblem and top silver riband buckle, in A.C. Bloxham, London, case, good very fine, together with two Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Joseph Smith Lodge Jewels, silver (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1903 and 1904 respectively) and enamel, the reverses engraved 'Presented by the Joseph Smith Lodge to Primo Arthur R. Curson, Sept. 14th. 1904' and 'Joseph Smith Lodge M'bro. & Cleveland Province, Presented to Primo Arthur R. Curson by Host George Harker, for Services Rendered during 1904. Feb. 2nd. 1905' (4)

Mr. Arthur R. Curson, citation reads: '4th September 1892: At great personal risk rescued Miss Polly Hunter from drowning at Middlesbrough.'

Mr. Arthur Richmond Curson (1873-1942) was awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal for saving the life of twelve-year-old Polly Hunter, 'who, accompanied by some companions, fell into the water on the 4th September whilst playing on some floating baulks of timber in the dock entrance. She had disappeared, and only one hand was visible, when Mr. A.R. Curson, who is a clerk at Messrs Rolckow, Vaughan, and Co., and a son of the Middlesbrough Dockmaster, pluckily plunged into the water and rescued her. Mr. Curson had only been a short while out of bed, where he had been suffering from an attack of pneumonia for a fortnight; but, on hearing of the accident, he promptly threw aside the blankets in which he was wrapped, and rescued the child. No one was near at the time, and the gallantry of the act was all the more notable.' (extract from the Northern Echo refers).
Curson was presented with the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal and Northern Review Order of the Silver Shield by the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Councillor C.L. Bell, in his first public act as Mayor, at a ceremony held at the Athletic Institute, Middlesbrough, in which the Mayor, in making the presentation, 'urged the boys present to be manly in the true sense of the word, which did not mean smoking a clay pipe and lounging about public-houses, but in showing their devotion to their fellow creatures and doing their duty as citizens.' (extract from the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette refers). The ceremony ended with a musical performance, in which the little girl who was rescued participated.

The Order of the Silver Shield was established by the proprietors of the Northern Review as a reward 'for bravery and manliness' in 1892; Curson was the first Knight of the Order.

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Sold for
£420