Life Saving Awards x1162


Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, G.IV.R., silver (Mr. T. Thorp. Voted 13 Sep: 1839) with eyelet and ring suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine


£500-£600


R.N.L.I.P.S. Silver Medal voted to Mr T. Thorp 13 September 1839: ‘At 11pm on 12 March 1839 the ship Progress, bound from London to Newcastle, drove towards shore at Tynemouth, Northumberland, and struck on sand a long way from shore. Mr. Thorp, the Rocket Storekeeper, and five sailors set up the Dennett's rocket apparatus, but the ship's crew was unable to find the first two lines. The third shot being successful, Thorp and the others bent on a warp and succeeded in landing four men from the wreck. The Master and six other men reached shore using the warp after the tide had fallen materially.’


The rescue is briefly mentioned in the Newcastle Courant (Friday 15 March 1839) thus: ‘On Monday night last, the brig Progress, of this port, in attempting to take the harbour at Shields, struck upon the bar, and the wind blowing heavy from the south east, she was driven upon the rocks at the foot of the Spanish Battery. It was near 11 o'clock, the night was dark, cold, and storm, and the sea very high. The alarm was given, the apparatus for saving life from shipwreck was immediately carried down, and Mr. Cunningham, one of the committee of the Shipwreck Society, who resides at Tynemouth, was speedily on the spot. By his judicious direction, three rockets were fired, each of which carried the line over the ship in a most beautiful manner; but such was the darkness, only the last one was found by those on board. A communication was then opened with the shore, and 4 men landed, the rest of the crew, confident of the strength of the ship, remaining until day-light. The vessel, although still holding together, is expected to break up'.


Thomas Thorp, the probable recipient, was born between 1793 and 1796. He married Martha Scott in Tynemouth on 5 May 1819. By 1841 they were still living in Tynemouth, the family then consisting of Thorp, Martha (54) and a young Thomas Thorp (18); he was noted as age 45 and 'Army H.P.' (1841 census).


This would seem to indicate that Thorp was at that time an ex-soldier and 'hospital pensioner'; the National Archives on-line catalogue notes several men of this name (or similar) with previous Napoleonic service, at least one of whom was a Waterloo veteran: Private Thomas Thorp, 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards.


Thomas Thorp appears to have died in 1868 aged 75 (Tynemouth Register District, Jan-March 1868, vol. 10b, p. 100 refers).


1163


Royal Humane Society, large bronze medal (successful) (Sidney A. Nunn) minor edge nicks, nearly extremely fine £140-£180


1164


Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 5th type (1902-83), bronze (William Brooks, Totterdown, 19-12-32.) with integral top riband bar, good very fine


£80-£120


William John Brooks was born in Highbridge, Somerset, on 8 June 1901, and joined the Bristol City Police on 26 November 1924. He was awarded the Bronze Medal for the Protection of Life from Fire for his gallantry in rescuing a 72-year-old man from a burning building at Oxford Street, Totterdown, on 19 December 1932: ‘Constable William Brooks was walking along St. John’s Lane when he saw smoke and flames rising from the house. He found the upper storey alight, and heard a women shout, “Save him: my father is up there”. Pulling himself up by the ledges of the windows of the burning building Brooks made a perilous climb to a smoke-filled bedroom and, after being forced back to the window for air, succeeded in finding Mr. George Mockridge lying unconscious on the floor. By means of his belt and an old pair of trousers, the officer lowered the man to the people in the road in the face of great heat and dense smoke. The whole of the premises except for one room were destroyed by the fire.’ (Bristol Evening World, 22 March 1933 refers).


Brooks was presented with his medal by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, who commented: ‘Under stress of great circumstances you rose to the occasion, and under great difficulties you rescued this man from certain death. It is a pride to the city to know we have such a force of men who in an emergency are prepared to face risks in the cause of life. The men in the Force today are carrying out its great traditions.’ (ibid).


Brooks additionally received a Parchment Certificate of Merit by the Watch Committee for this action, and during the course of his career he was also Commended several times by the Chief Constable. He served throughout the Second World War, being awarded the Defence Medal, and received his Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1951. He died in Clifton, Bristol, on 12 December 1967.


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