Messina Earthquake Medal

Awarded to Paymaster Rear-Admiral Frederick Arthur Frith Banbury (1874-1951). Obverse: Head of King Victor Emmanuel III (left). Legend: 'VITTORIO EMANUELE III RE D'ITALIA'. Reverse: Inscription within an oak wreath tied with a bow: 'MEDAGLIA COMMEMORATIVA TERREMOTO CALABRO-SICULO 28 DICEMBRE 1908'. Mounted on a bar with five others.

Paymaster Rear-Admiral Frederick Arthur Frith Banbury entered the Royal Navy on 15 July 1890.
He served in In HMS ‘Blanche’ 1901-1902 during the South African War. For services during the Messina earthquake of 1908 in 'Minerva', he was made an officer of the Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus in 1911 and awarded the Italian medal and diploma for the same event. During World War 1, he served in HMS ‘Conqueror’ in the Home and Grand Fleets - mainly in the North Sea and was present at the Battle of Jutland. He was secretary to Admiral Frederick John Charles Tudor, Commander-in-Chief, China Station, between 20 July 1917 and 25 October 1917 in HMS 'Rosario'. Banbury also acted as a French interpreter.
He retired with the rank of Paymaster Rear-Admiral on 1 January 1929.
Banbury married Winifred Fink in 1911, at Godstone, Surrey.

Object Details

ID: MED2581
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Lifesaving award
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Giorgi, Luigi
Events: Earthquake at Messina, 1908
Date made: 1908
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 32 mm