Royal Humane Society Stanhope Gold Medal 1909

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 wreath tied with ribbon name of recipient and inscription: 'VIT . PERIC . EXPOS D . D . SOC . REG HVM.' [5 straight lines]. Inscription on edge: 'THOMAS BOUTTELL A.B. H.M.S. GLORY'. Fitted with a bar inscribed 'STANHOPE MEDAL' Above '1909' and a dark blue ribbon edged with yellow and black. Mounted on a bar with MED1130. Gold brooch bar and spare ribbon.

Awarded to Thomas Boutell (1888-1960). The British-owned SS 'Sardinia' caught fire off Malta and went on the rocks. Bound for Alexandria, her passengers were mainly from Malta or the Levant and included 140 Moroccans on pilgrimage to Mecca. A hundred of the Moroccans perished. A boat from HMS 'Glory rescued six men from the latter group, but one man became entangled in a rope. Able Seaman Bouttell volunteered to swim to the casualty, detached him and supported him until the two were picked up by a customs whaler. The ship's side was very hot at the time, and the vessel was being shaken by explosions. In addition to the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal Bouttell was: 'Presented with the Stanhope Gold Medal by the Princess of Wales, the above being considered the most meritorious deed of the year.'

Object Details

ID: MED1129
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Lifesaving award
Display location: Not on display
Vessels: Glory (1899)
Date made: 1873
People: Bouttell, Thomas; Royal Humane Society
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 38 mm