Lot 1240

Description

Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of N.S.W. silver medal. Thomas Gunning - for saving life at Manly 18th Jan 1909. Engraved. Some surface scratches on reverse, otherwise very fine.

'On the night of January 18th, 1909, a lady named Mrs Cottle was bathing in the surf at Manly with others, when she was carried out by the undertow. Her fellow bathers were unable to render any assistance but ran up the beach screaming for help. Mr Gunning who was standing on the Parade on hearing the cries, at once rushed into the surf after throwing off his coat. The night being very dark, he was unable to see the lady, but on being told the direction, he was at last able to reach her and bring her to the shore with the greatest difficulty, as he was encumbered with clothes and boots and the sea at the time was very rough.' Together with copy of photograph of recipient in uniform of the NSW contingent to the Sudan in 1885.