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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 781

(x) A rare group of mounted miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant B. R. Spencer, South African Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Air Force, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Silver Medal and subsequently the Stanhope Gold Medal for rescuing natives from a gas filled sewage pipe at the Klipspruit Sewage Farm, Johannesburg, in 1932

British War and Victory Medals; Africa Service Medal 1939-45; R.H.S. Silver Medal; R.H.S. Stanhope Gold Medal, mounted as worn, the last silver-gilt, minor verdigris to second, otherwise good very fine (5)

Benjamin Roper Spencer embarked from South Africa aboard H.M.T Kenilworth Castle on 2 May 1918 and served with the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer (Cadet). Repatriated to South Africa and granted a temporary commission as 2nd Lieutenant prior to demobilisation, he was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

Of his subsequent lifesaving exploits, R.H.S. records confirm the award of his Silver Medal on 13 December 1932 - Case No. 51,523:

'About 12 noon on the 13 October 1932, a native werker went down a manhole at the Klipspruit Sewage Farm, Johannnesburg, to remove a blockage, and collapsed, being overcome by sewer gas.

Another native went down with the same result, followed by a third, who was also overcome.

Then Mr. Spencer, having been sent for, went down with a rope tied round himself and a cloth soaked in hypotheo-sulphate round his face, and on reaching the bottom of the manhole, fastened a second rope round the three men, who were hauled to the surface in succession, he himself being drawn out last in an unconscious state which lasted 20 minutes, when he recovered.

The native who went down first subsequently died, and the two others were restored; these men being awarded Bronze Medals for their attempts.

Manhole 24 feet deep and a diameter of 2 feet 6 inches at top.'

Spencer was subsequently awarded the R.H.S. Stanhope Gold Medal, by decree of a General Court meeting held on 14 February 1933.

He later served in the Second World War as 1st Lieutenant with the Magaliesburg National Reserve Volunteers, retaining his home address as the Klipspruit Sewage Farm; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£480