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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 187

(x) A scarce Crete 1897 Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal group of five awarded to Sergeant J. Ferguson, Seaforth Highlanders

Queen's Sudan 1896-98 (3073 [sic] Sgt. J. Ferguson. 1/Sea. Hrs.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (3075 Sejt. J. Ferguson. 2: Sea: Highrs:); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (3075 Serjt: J. Ferguson. Seaforth Highrs.); Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (3075 Sergt. J. Ferguson. Seath. Highrs.); Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal (Successful) (Sergt. John Ferguson, 11th. July, 1897.), good very fine (5)

R.H.S. Bronze Medal Case No. 29,071:

'Sergeants John Evans and John Ferguson, 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, at great personal risk, rescued Sergeant A. McLeod from drowning at Candia, Crete, on the 11th July 1897.'

John Ferguson was born during 1871 and earned his R.H.S. Bronze Medal during the Cretan Intervention. Although one Company of the Seaforths landed at Canea on the 24 March 1897, the bulk of the Battalion proceeded to Candia, landing on 26 March. In Canea the Seaforths initially shared accommodation with the French 8th Regiment Marine Infantry in the Nazimen Barracks, but eventually moved out to tented accommodation in Halepa. In Candia, the Battalion was supposed to be housed in barracks but because of the unexpected arrival of Italian troops and ‘objections to the various sanitary features in the proposed quarters’, they moved to tents and then huts on the town walls.

Whilst returning from the Island of Standici in an open boat, McLeod went overboard into some 60-70 fathoms of open, windy, rough sea. Ferguson and Evans sprang after him and held him afloat until a boat came to rescue the party. Their case was reported to the Officer Commanding Troops at Malta. The Medals were sent to the War Office in November 1897.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£320