Lot 2373

Description

Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, awarded to an Australian, with a silver pin backed ribbon suspension bar inscribed 'Quartermaster A.E.Turner R.M.S. Ophir', in case of issue. Extremely fine and very rare to an Australian.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 127 (lot 956).
Together with newspaper clipping attached to inside of case lid. It reads 'An interesting presentation to one of the heroes of the recent earthquake, by which the city of Messina was destroyed, took place at the Metropolitan Fire Station yesterday, when a former quartermaster of the R.M.S. Ophir, Mr A.Turner, who is now a member of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, received a silver medal, sent by King Victor Emanuel of Italy, in recognition of the services performed by Mr Turner when Messina was in ruins. The crew of the Ophir, it will be remembered, were instrumental in saving a great number of lives, and in that noble work Mr Turner took a prominent part. The presentation which took place in the presence of members of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade board and members of the headquarters staff, was made through the medium of the shipping master at Melbourne, Captain Parsons, whose laudatory remarks were supported by Mr F.T. Hickford, the President of the board.'
With research.