Obverse: Within a laurel wreath tied with a bow, the coat of arms of the borough, a sailing ship crest and three coronets on a shield, motto on ribbon 'MESSIS AB ALTIS' (The arms of Tynemouth). Reverse: A lifeboat of six hands tossed on a breaking wave. Inscription above: 'FOR DUTY NOBLY DONE'. Inscription on edge: 'JOHN ROBERT GRANT JAN.11TH.1913'. Fitted with a cusped bar and dark blue ribbon. The 'Dunelm' was wrecked off Blyth, Northumberland on 11 January 1913. All the crew of 14 were saved by the Cambois lifeboat and the North Blyth Volunteer Life Saving Apparatus Company but three men died subsequently of exposure or injury. The North Shields Lifeboat also turned out with a reduced crew and arrived as the last man was being rescued by the rocket apparatus. The local public presented specially issued medals and watches to the men of this lifeboat.

John Robert Grant (1873-1937) was born in North Shields, the son of a mariner -John Grant. He continued to live in North Shields where he worked as a fisherman and lifeboatman. During World War I he served in the in the Royal Naval Reserve. He married Hannah Pow in 1894 and they had children.