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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 239

A Scarce Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal to Private M. Byrne, Royal Irish Regiment, For Gallantry In Saving Life in Heavy Seas in Southampton Water, 1.5.1893, Whilst a Patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley
Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal, silver, type 2 1862-1902, obverse: head of Queen Victoria with chaple of oak leaves facing left (Private Byrne Voted 8th June 1893.), with uniface dolphin suspension, pawnbroker's mark to edge near suspension claw, otherwise extremely fine and scarce, together with a related brass plaque commemorating the award of the 'Silver Medal of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution awarded in June 1893, to Private James Carroll, Royal Irish Regiment'

R.N.L.I. Medal voted 8.6.1893: 'When a boat capsized on the 1st May, 1893, in a heavy sea in Southampton Water, three men were thrown into the water. Four soldiers, patients in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, invalided home from India, noticed the men's plight and set out in a skiff. They picked up the men, returned to land in an overloaded condition, and risked further injury to their health from wet clothing and exposure to the cold wind.'

2691 Private Michael Byrne, born Waterford, Ireland, 1868; enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment, November 1886; posted to the 2nd Battalion for service in India, October 1889; recommended for Medical discharge, January 1893; arrived back in England and admitted to the Royal Victorian Hospital, Netley, 28.3.1893; discharged, 9.5.1893, a week after his act of gallantry, after 5 years and 77 days' service. This is his only medal.

Four Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medals were awarded for this action, to Private Frederick Sutcliffe, 21st Hussars; Private James Carroll, Royal Irish Regiment; and Corporal John George Holmes, Rifle Brigade.

Approximately 25 awards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal to Army Personnel since its inception in 1825.

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Sold for
£800