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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 536

The poignant Quiver Medal for Heroic Conduct in Saving Life awarded to Miss E. Harper, for attempting to save the lives of five children stuck on sandbanks in a rising tide at Reighton Gap, Filey in 1902

'Quiver’ Medal for Heroic Conduct in Saving Life, silver (Ellen Harper 1902), good very fine

Extract from The Quiver, 1902 - a joint citation:

'At Reighton Gap, near Filey, on August 22nd 1902, five children, varying in ages from three years to twelve, were surrounded on the sands by the rapidly rising tide. The cries of the little ones attracted the attentions of their mothers, but already an impassable channel had been formed between the children and the shore. Drawn to the spot by the agonised cries of the parents, Miss E. M. Fenwick, whose sister had already cycled towards Filey for aid, followed by Mr Cass of Scarborough, and these two, as well as Miss E. Harper, of Reighton, made desperate but unavailing efforts to reach the little ones before they were swept away. No one of the three would-be rescuers could swim, yet they were in the water almost, if not quite, up to their neck, and Miss Harper, who is slightly lame, entered the water three or four times before she abandoned her efforts to save the children. The case went to an inquest before Mr Luke White, M.P., His Majesty's Coroner for the East Riding of Yorkshire. Mr Luke received the medals and presented them on behalf of the Editor to the three recipients.'

The matter was also covered in The Times, which gave further detail on the attempts of Harper:

'The witness and Mrs Webster did not notice anything until the children gave the alarm by screaming. They pulled off their boots and stockings and tried to reach the children but could not. She called to a young lady, Miss Harper, who came up and said she could save them, for she knew the coast. She took off her dress and went up to her neck in the water but could get no nearer to the children...The last scream was heard from the children and then a great wave came and washed them all off together.

See also The Quiver Medal, by Bill Fevyer, L.S.A.R.S.J. No.23, p.4-32; sold together with detailed research.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£400