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Auction: 9024 - The Property of a Gentleman Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals
Lot: 752

Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck Medal, silver, Type 1 1824-1862, obverse: head of King George IV facing left (Mr. Henry Hildebrand, Voted, March 14th 1832.), obverse slightly worn, nearly very fine, with integral band, eyelet suspension ring and riband ring Estimate £ 340-380 Henry Hildebrand´´s citation reads, ´´12 February 1832: The timber laden ship Huntley foundered on 4 February 500 miles west of Ireland; her Master and crew of 14 men took to their boat. After nine nights and days without a compass, suffering great privations, they were cast up on the Island of Bopphin, near Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland, so emaciated and frost-bitten that they could not render themselves the slightest assistance. The people of the coast, fearing cholera, would not go near them until Mr. Hildebrand (Bailiff to the Marquis of Sligo) went forward and, by example and influence, succeeded in getting them all safely landed. He then took them to his own house and offices where they were fed and looked after. Unfortunately two of them died next morning.´´ Mr. Hildebrand reported his medal as lost, and on 7 March 1850 a replacement was voted. At the time this was counted as a separate award and was included in overall number of medals awarded. (Lifeboat Gallantry, RNLI Medals and How They Were Won, B. Cox, refers).

Sold for
£420