Obverse: Within a rope border on either side inscription. 'Presented to Captain William Wisnom by the Relief Committee for his humane conduct in saving the lives of four Scotch Quarter fishermen whose boat capsized in Belfast Lough'. Reverse: Inscription: 'Boat accident 7th Novr 1882 at Carrickfergus'. Fitted with a loop and ring.

The fishermen caught herring in open boats powered by oars and lug sails. One overturned in a squall and Robert Davison, John Weatherup senior and Robert Reid were lost. The remaining four survivors - Thomas Weatherup junior, Thomas Thompson, John Davey, and William Donald remained sitting on the upturned boat for five hours until picked up by Captain Wisnom in the schooner 'Bellewood' and landed at Belfast. Wisdom Wisnom (1838-1813) was a master of merchant vessels. He was born in Carrickfergus and died in Hartlepool where he kept a lodging house. He married Ann Jane Milliken in 1869 at Carrickfergus.