Lot 824

Description

Royal Humane Society of Australasia, instd. 1874, in bronze (39mm), with clasp suspension and ribbon, inscribed 'Harold Lewin / 15.5.22'. Together with handcrafted medallion with suspension and bar in gold (15ct, 12.3gms, 29mm) inscribed 'Presented by residents and others to Porter Harold Lewin for Gallantry at Ripponlea Station 15.5.22'. First in case of issue. Ribbon frayed, otherwise very fine.

Harold Lewin, Windsor (Vic), Railway Porter, aged 19, who risked his life in preventing a man, name unknown, from being run over by a train at Ripponlea Railway Station, on May 15, 1922. The man, who was intoxicated, had alighted from a train, from Melbourne, about 6.30pm. The train had just left the platform, when Lewin saw the man was attempting to cross the line to the opposite platform from which the train to Melbourne was just about to start. Lewin called to him, but the man went on, and jumped or fell onto the rails. Another train was approaching from Melbourne, and Lewin jumped in front of it and pulled the man off the rails beside the train to Melbourne which had started. The step of the guard's van of the train to Melbourne hit Lewin on the back as he held the man down. When the train from Melbourne had stopped, Lewin lifted him up and returned to his duty and the man disappeared.