Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William Thomas Wood, 12th July 1887)...

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (William Thomas Wood, 12th July 1887) with integral top riband buckle, nearly extremely fine £100-£140 --- R.H.S. Case no. 23,634: ‘Thomas Wood, professor of music, at great personal risk, rescued Frederick Ball from drowning in the Thames, at Chelsea, on the 12th July 1887.’ The following additional detail is provided by the West London Press, 16 July 1887: ‘On Tuesday a gallant act was witnessed from the Chelsea Embankment. As the steamer Redfern was proceeding from Cadogan Pier up the river to Kew, the passengers saw a boy in the water opposite the Old Church, who was evidently exhausted, and was shouting for help. Without a moments hesitation, and only leaving his hat and stick behind, Mr Wood of 3 Radnor Street, Chelsea, dived into the river, and swam to the boy. He seized hold of him, and by dint of great exertion succeeded in getting him down to the Albert Bridge. There they managed to seize a life buoy skilfully thrown from the bridge by Mr. Rusholme, who is engaged on the works, and on this they were supported until rescued by a boat promptly launched from the pier by the master, Mr. Pellatt. Mr. Wood was able to go home at once without assistance. The boy whose name is Frederick Ball, and who also lives in Radnor Street was in a very exhausted state, and says had not Mr. Wood acted so promptly he must have gone under. He has not however suffered much from his immersion. He was bathing in the river and had gone too far from the shore, and the tide which was running out strongly at the time carried him away. Mr. Wood’s hat and stick were carried by the Redfern up to Kew and were not returned to him until the next day.’ Sold with copied research, and an original cutting from the above newspaper edition.