Australian Historical Medals

Lot 1097    SESSION 4 (4.30pm Tuesday 21 July)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,050

ROYAL SHIPWRECK RELIEF & Humane Society of N.S.W., award medal in silver (38mm) to 'William Stapleton / for an Act of Bravery / Redfern, Sydney / N.S.W / 30th Nov.1907'. Engraved. In case of issue by Hardy Bros, one small edge nick on obverse otherwise nearly uncirculated.

Citation: On November 30th, 1907, Mr Stapleton was informed that his next-door-neighbour, a man named Cleaver, had shot at his wife with a revolver. On going inside, Mrs Cleaver asked him not to leave, as her husband would certainly kill her. While walking to the dining room, Cleaver came from the kitchen, and fired point blank at him, wounding him in the left breast. Despite the injury, Mr Stapleton bravely closed with the man, and succeeded in overpowering and disarming him, and subsequently assisted in conveying him to the lockup. Stapleton was then taken to the hospital and admitted for treatment.