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: 'STEPHEN COURT R.N.' [curved lines] 'MASTER H.M.S. FURIOUS VIT . OB . SERV . D . D . SOC . REG . HVM . MAY 1858'. [straight lines]. Fitted with a ring and suspended by a thin bar from a dark blue ribbon with pin for wearing. In fitted box of issue by Warrington, 27 Strand, London. Inscription in box lid: 'PRESENTED BY THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'.

HMS 'Furious' was at anchor at the mouth of the Peiho river (China) when AB William Wire fell from the rigging into the sea having been knocked unconscious. Stephen Court (1826-61) jumped overboard and saved him. 'Mr Court's services were acknowledged by the Commander-in-chief, Sir M. Seymour, who expressed personally his appreciation and admiration of his conduct. Preparations were being made at this time for the attack on the Taku Forts and advance on Tientsin.

Stephen Court (1826-1861) was educated at Greenwich Naval School. He served in the mail packet service between Folkestone and the Brazils. He was appointed Second Master of 'Enterprize' under Sir James Clark Ross, 1848-49 during an expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and then Second Master and then Acting Master of 'Investigator' under McClure. He accompanied McClure on the sledge journey 21-31 October 1850 which reached Winter Harbour on Melville Island and covered the final unexplored part of the North-West Passage. He made several more sledge journeys in connection with the abandonment of some of Sir Edward Belcher's ships and the retreat of their crews. Court was Master in the 'Odin' during the Crimea war and at the bombardment of Kinburn. He was later Master of 'Furious' under Sherard Osborn in China and Japan during 1857-59 and served as Harbour Master of Shanghai during 1859-61. He died at Folkestone during 1861 on half pay, being resident there with his wife Susanna.