Obverse: A nude boy with short cloak flying out from his shoulder, blowing on a torch held in his right hand. Legend: 'LATEAT SCINTILLVLA FORSAN'. Exergue: 'SOC. LOND. IN . RESVSCITAT . INTERMORTVORVM INSTIT . MDCCLXXIV'. Reverse: Within an oak garland tied with ribbon, name of recipient and inscription. Legend: 'HOC PRETIVM CIVE SERVATO TVLIT'. Inscription: 'CHAS. V. ANSON'. [curved lines] 'Sub Lieut. H.M.S. ALECTO VIT . OB . SERV . D . D . SOC . REG . HVM . 21 Dec 1864'. [straight lines].

Awarded to Charles Vernon Anson (1846-1905), who entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1859. He was promoted to midshipman in 1860, sub lieutenant in 1865, lieutenant in 1865 and commander in 1871. He was serving in HMS 'Alecto' in 1864 when he jumped overboard at sea in lat.19 deg. 23 min. S.long. 36 deg.32 min.W to assist in saving Johnson, a naval instructor. Anson was also awarded the silver RHS medal in 1868 for helping to rescue passengers and crew from the P&O vessel 'Niphon' which was wrecked on a reef near Amoy.