Lot 682

Description

Reward of Bravery, 1875, in silver (53mm), wreath surround with suspension loop, inside a plain disc inscribed both sides, obverse, 'Reward/of/Bravery/FREDERICK RAPER/1875./Ship Aurora.', reverse, 'Presented/by the/PASSENGERS/to reward efforts/made to save/the Life of a/Shipmate.' Good very fine.

Frederick Edwin Raper, recorded on crew list of the Aurora, a three masted iron hulled sailing ship, in 1875 as a 17 year old Ordinary Seaman from Lymington in Hampshire, UK. He served on the ship during its maiden voyage to Australia discharging by mutual consent at Adelaide on 6 March 1875. He received no wages which suggests that he was working his passage to Australia. On its return trip, the Aurora experienced a fire on board on 8 August 1875, was abandoned the next day and was scuttled on 30 September 1875. Frederick Raper died on 18 October 1923 of broncho pneumonia at Eastwood, Adelaide.

The lot includes extensive research documents but no account is available of Raper's brave actions.

Ex John Downey Collection.