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Auction: 5005 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 324

Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Small Bronze Medal, 38mm. (Mr. Wm. C. Willis, Officer Ship "Akbar." in Charge of boat at rescue of 4 Men from the Mersey, on July 26th 1903.), edge bruise, nearly extremely fine, with its bronze riband buckle Estimate £ 60-80 ´Bronze Medal and vote of thanks to Mr. William C. Willis of the Reformatory Ship Akbar, officer in charge of boat, and Bronze Medal to each of the 12 boys forming the boat´s crew, for promptitude and gallantry shown in the rescue of four men from the River Mersey on July 26th at about 9.50pm. The boys had all turned in for the night when Captain Bennett, commander of the Akbar, hearing cries for help, ordered a boat to be manned and lowered. This was done in about four minutes, the cutter, in charge of Mr. Willis, with a crew of 12 boys (some with only a flannel on) was sent away. The night was dark with a very strong flood tide running, and in about three-quarters of an hour the boat returned, having picked up four men in an exhausted condition, a mile from the ship. They were capsized in a sailing boat, and, unfortunately, one of their number was drowned.´ (65th Annual Report of the Committee of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society 1904 refers)

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£160