Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria laureate (left). Below bust 'V.R.' Legend: 'AWARDED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE FOR GALLANTRY IN SAVING LIFE'. Reverse: Three men, one of whom is signalling to a rescuing life-boat in the distance and a woman with a baby, on a raft and a broken spar in a stormy sea. Inscription on edge: 'WILLIAM STEWART WRECK OF THE "DIANA," FRIEDERICKSHAMM NEAR ARDMORE ON THE 26 DECR. 1860'. Suspended by a bar from a blue ribbon.

William Stewart was a commissioned boatman, National Lifeboat Institution, stationed at Ardmore, County Donegal. Steward helped to rescue seven men from the brigantine 'Diana' of Fredrikshamn which went ashore in Ardmore Bay in bad weather. The lifeboat took off all the crew members except one, who attempted to get to the shore on a piece of timber but could not get through the surf. Stewart and Corbert succeeded in dragging him out of the water after a severe struggle in which Stewart nearly drowned.