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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 312

(x) A Royal Humane Society Medal group of three awarded to Chief Petty Officer J. Shapter, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (J. Shapter, C.P.O., H.M.S. Humber); Royal Humane Society, small silver Medal (successful) (Capt. of Fore Top, H.M.S. “Nautilus” 26th Oct. 1886); Royal Humane Society, small bronze Medal (successful) (Joseph Shapter, A.B., H.M.S. “Achilles” 1st Feby. 1877), with Second Award Bar, this uninscribed, and bronze buckle brooch bar, some contact marks, very fine (3)

Joseph Shapter was one of 19 Boys who joined H.M.S. Challenger (List 13/99, refers) in Hong Kong, as replacements, on 1 December 1874. He was born on 27 August 1857 in Plymouth, Devon and was a farm servant upon his joining the Royal Navy as a 14 year old on 16 December 1872, signing on for 10 years from his eighteenth birthday. When he joined Challenger from Victor Emmanuel he stood at 4 feet 11½ inches tall with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. He subsequently grew another 6½ inches and acquired a tattoo in the form of a woman on his right arm. While on board Challenger he was promoted twice, to Ordinary Seaman and then advanced Able Seaman in May 1876.

Promoted to Leading Seaman in January 1879 and raised Petty Officer 2nd Class in April 1880, he was made Petty Officer 1st Class in November 1880 when on Royal Adelaide. Shapter was appointed Captain’s Coxswain in August 1881 and Chief Petty Officer in October 1887 but was de-rated to Leading Seaman in October 1892 when aboard Shannon. He managed to regain his rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class in April 1893 and Petty Officer 1st Class in December 1894 before being pensioned in August 1895. Shapter joined the R.F.R. in March 1903 and was discharged due to his age in August 1907. He was not entitled to the L.S. & G.C. Medal.

Despite his patchy service record Shapter was a brave man and was responsible for three rescues:

At 4 pm on 1 February 1877, at Rock Ferry in the Mersey Estuary, Ordinary Seaman C. J. Crocker of Achilles fell out of the ship’s boat when it capsized and was seen to be in some difficulties in the icy waters. Shapter jumped overboard and supported him until a rescue boat arrived. For this rescue Shapter was awarded the R.H.S. Bronze Medal (Case no. 20082).

Shapter was Captain’s Coxswain when at 7pm on 30 March 1882, on the Gallenas River, West Africa, he rescued several persons when their boat capsized about half a mile from a beach on which a heavy surf was breaking. The people in the water were in danger of being taken out to sea where there were many sharks. Shapter assisted and supported all those that required help by swimming out to them with oars or anything he could find that floated, keeping them afloat for upwards of an hour until they were picked up by a boat. For this he was awarded the Bar to his bronze medal (Case no. 21729).

At 11 am on 26 October 1886, H.M. Brig Nautilus was at sea off Plymouth when a Boy named John Whitmore fell from the hammock nettings into the sea. Captain of the Fore Top Shapter, without removing his clothes, jumped in after him and assisted in supporting him until a boat arrived. There was a heavy sea on at the time, with half a gale blowing making conditions difficult. For his bravery he was awarded the R.H.S. Silver Medal (Case no. 23350).

Sold together with copied research.

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

Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£950