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Auction: 7022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 1445

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal, silver, Type 1 1824-62, obverse: head of King George IV facing left, (Lieut. Mattw. Combe. R.N. Voted 12 Marh. 1845.), edge bruise, good very fine, with integral named silver band and original central eye and ring suspension Estimate £ 380-420 Lieutenant Matthew Combe, R.N., served as Chief Officer H.M. Coastguard, No. 2 Battery, Dungeness, his citation for the award reads, ´31 January 1845: The vessel William Harrington, outward bound, grounded at Dungeness, Kent, at 9am in a severe snow storm at low water. When the weather cleared, she was seen by Lieutenant Combe who launched the Coastguard galley with four of his men. The sea was running very high and the north wind was strengthening, but the galley carried a short way over the sands at half water and got alongside. A rope was passed on board the vessel but the sea upset the galley, and the Coastguards were thrown into the water except for Lieutenant Combe who clung to the vessel´s side. Two of the men were drowned, whilst the other two succeeded in getting hold of a rope and were saved. With the assistance of No. 1 Battery´s boat and two Deal boats, the William Harrington was refloated later and taken to Portsmouth for repairs.´

Sold for
£700