Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 357

An interesting Royal Humane Society Medal awarded to Commander S. H. Tennyson, Royal Navy, who bravely attempted to rescue a man foundering in the Solent and later experienced a colourful naval career, being Court Martialled for the loss of H.M.S. Chamois three years later

Royal Humane Society, small Bronze Medal (Lieut: S. H. Tennyson. H.M.S. "Pactolus". Oct: 31. 1901), claw loose, very fine and better

Case number 31735, R.H.S. report:

'On the 31st October, 1901, a man named Anderson was accidentally dragged from a steam cutter by a rope from H.M.S. Pactolus, off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. There was an easterly gale blowing with a choppy sea. At great risk, Lieut. Tennyson jumped from the ship but was swept away before reaching Anderson, and was picked up by a boat some distance off. Meanwhile Anderson was hauled on board the ship.'

Sydney Harold Tennyson was born on 24 July 1877, the second son of Captain Julias George Tennyson of Thorpe Hall, Louth, Lincolnshire. He entered the service of the Royal Navy on 15 July 1891, being promoted Sub Lieutenant 1st August 1897, and Lieutenant on 31 December 1899. Described as 'very zealous, capable and tactful', he forged a successful naval career rising to the rank of Commander. On the other hand, he found himself in trouble with the Admiralty on more than one occasion.

He was firstly Court Martialled - and fully exonerated of all blame - for the loss of the destroyer H.M.S. Chamois which had foundered and sunk under his command in what can only be described as a bizarre accident. On 26 September 1904, while conducting a full power trial in the Gulf of Patras off the coast of Greece, she lost a propeller blade. This unbalanced the shaft which was spinning at high speed, and the resulting vibration broke the shaft bracket and tore a large hole in the stern. According to The Engineer in September 1904, 'she sank by the stern in 30 fathoms of water.' All hands were saved but one engineer was wounded and another scalded.

In November 1913, Lieutenant-Commander Tennyson was brought before the Attorney General with Sub-Lieutenant Lawrence Higgins, both of the gunboat Gossamer, charged with trespass aboard the fishing vessel Explorator and for alleged false imprisonment, which resulted in damage to the steam drifter. It was later agreed that the Crown and not defendants should make suitable payment to the plaintiff, Captain George Welton, in order to promote renewed 'good feeling between the fishing industry and the Admiralty.' His Lordship, in consenting to the course suggested, said that 'the worst that could be said with regard to this case was that young officers of His Majesty's Navy were perhaps unduly impressed with the importance of being officers in the Navy' (The Nottingham Evening Post, 28 November 1913, refers).

Tennyson served at Wick during the Great War, being attached to the squadron supply ship, later armed boarding steamer Stephen Furness from 7 April 1915. He was not aboard when she was torpedoed west of the Isle of Man by UB-64 on 13 December 1917. Placed on the Retired List as Commander on 3 March 1922, he died on 23 March 1950.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£140