A Fine Collection of Life Saving Awards 419
Five: Chief Gunner R. W. Martin, Royal Navy
QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (R. W. Martin, P.O., H.M.S. Thetis) small impressed naming; 1914-15 STAR (Gnr. R. W. Martin, R.N.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (Ch. Gnr. R. W. Martin, R.N.); ROYALHUMANE SOCIETY, small bronze medal (successful) (R. W. Martin, H.M.S. “Thetis” April 20 1900) with Second Award Clasp, ‘3rd Feby. 1914’, mounted for display, good very fine (5)
£600-700
Robert William Martin was born in Broadstairs, Kent on 28 October 1875. An Errand Boy by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 14 April 1891, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in November the same year. Serving on H.M.S. Collingwood he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in October 1893 and to Able Seaman in April 1895. Serving on H.M.S. Thetis, February 1898-June 1901, he was promoted to Leading Seaman in September 1898 and Petty Officer 2nd Class in October 1899. He was promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class in August 1901. In January 1908 he was appointed Acting Gunner, serving on H.M.S. Shannon and was confirmed in that rank in January 1910. During the Great War he served as such on H.M. Ships Leda and Earl of Peterborough, being advanced to Chief Gunner in September 1918. Martin retired from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant on 16 July 1925.
During his naval career he was the recipient of the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze and Clasp:
‘At 10.30 p.m. on 20th April 1900 in Durban Harbour, T. Conneely (a stoker of H.M.S. Thetis) fell overboard from the ship, 400 yards from the shore, into water 21 feet deep. Sharks infest the harbour. Robert Martin, Petty Officer of H.M.S. Thetis, jumped in and supported Conneely till a rope was thrown and he was taken to the gangway.’ (R.H.S. Case no. 30,839).
‘At 2.10 p.m. on 3rd February 1914 at sea three and a half miles off Clacton, the cutter Snipe, sank while being towed by H.M.S. Leda. Filled and sank in water 40 feet deep. Seeing that Abbott (A.B.) was in difficulty. Robert Martin (Gunner, R.N.) swam to him with a biscuit tin and kept him afloat till they were picked up.’ (R.H.S. Case no. 40,632).
With copied service papers and rescue details.
420
Pair: Miss Daphne E. D. H. Millman, for a rescue on Lake Windermere
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY, small silver medal (successful) (Daphne E. D. H. Millman, Sept 20 1904) with silver buckle on ribbon; ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY, Award of Merit, silver (Daphne Millman, 1914) with silver brooch bar, good very fine (2)
£350-450
‘At 12.30 p.m. on the 20th September, 1904, Miss Milman, with her sister, Miss R. Milman, and Miss D.F. Richmond, took a boat and went some distance out on Lake Windermere with the intention of bathing. Miss D. Milman dived in from the boat, Miss Richmond, who was a poor swimmer, going in from the opposite side, while Miss R. Milman remained in the boat. Suddenly Miss Richmond got into difficulty, and on Miss D. Milman going to her assistance she was clutched and dragged under water. An oar was now thrown to them from the boat, but was insufficient to support both, and they again went under. The boat had now drifted some distance away, and with only one oar Miss R. Milman was unable to reach them owing to the rough water and current, and she therefore paddled to the nearest land, and running to the boat-house, got another boat, with two oars, with which she returned. Meantime the boat she had left drifted some way out, and Miss D. Milman, being much exhausted, made a supreme effort, and reaching it got in and paddled back to where the body was. Finding it impossible to get Miss Richmond from the water, she being now apparently dead, Miss D. Milman again jumped in, and the sisters, by their united efforts, got the body into the boat which Miss R. Milman had rowed out. Both then began artificial respiration, but it was half an hour before any sign of life appeared. They were now noticed and assisted to land, where the treatment was continued until Miss Richmond recovered.
Great risk was incurred by Miss D. Milman from her prolonged efforts in deep water.’ (ref. Acts of Gallantry). The Silver Medal was voted to Miss D. Milman, and the Resuscitation Certificate to Miss R. Milman (R.H.S. Case no. 33,636).
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