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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 410

Royal Humane Society, small bronze Medal (successful) (Abed Abdallah El Hissi. 5th April 1947.), good very fine and scarce to an Arab recipient

R.H.S. Case No. 60148, for his lifesaving act at Bat Yam Beach near Jaffa.

The action was to save W. H. Cruickshank, who was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at the 1st Guards Brigade Workshop. His life was saved on 5 April 1947 and was reported in the Palestine Post:

'Cruickshank was bathing when he was caught by a strong undertow. His calls for help were heard by Hissi who stripped and swam out to him. As they battled with the waves, Cruickshank urged Hissi to leave him and make for shore, but the rescuer refused. The citation said that Hissi, after swimming against a strong current for 20 minutes, brought the soldier to shore.

Once on dry land Dr. Hilda Becker, who was giving a first aid course at the time, applied artificial respiration. Although the soldier's comrades despaired of his life after she had worked continuously for some two hours, she persisted and eventually succeeded in reviving him.'

A most unusual award, with an Arab and a Jew united to save the life of a British soldier.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£160