Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 1674    SESSION 6 (9.30AM WEDNESDAY 31ST JULY)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $7,600

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA CLARKE SILVER MEDAL, (1926), (38mm) with ribbon brooch bar, reverse inscribed, 'A.E.Jorgensen 4.12.26'; together with handcrafted gold medallion (29mm, 10.5g) inscribed on reverse 'Presented to A.E.Jorgensen/By the Members of the/Port Phillip Stevedores Union/in appreciation of his bravery on S.S.IDOMENUS/4.12.26'. With original case of issue gold blocked on lid 'Presented by/The Royal Humane Society/of Australasia/to/A.E.Jorgensen/4-12-26', very fine.

Together with Royal Humane Society award scroll dated Melbourne, 24 October 1927 wherein it was resolved, 'That the Courage and Humanity displayed by Albert Edward Jorgensen, of Northcote, Stevedore Foreman, aged 43 years, who risked his life, in rescueing several Firemen from suffocation by gas fumes at Victoria Dock, Melbourne on Dec 4th 1926. Call for the admiration of this Court and justly entitle him to the Clarke Silver Medal of this Society which is hereby awarded.' The scroll is stored in a Royal Humane Society leather pouch.

Case number 4104 - Albert Edward Jorgensen, stevedores foreman, aged 43 of Northcote (Vic) was at Victoria Dock on 4 December 1926 where a fire had broken out in the hold of a ship. It was thought that the fire was out when it broke out again and three stevedores went into the hold and did not reappear. Mr Jorgensen went down to find the men collapsed. He helped two out but on the third attempt was overcome by fumes and fell but was just able to scramble out. James Kemp (bronze medal) led a detachment and Mr Jorgensen helped them out. One fireman was thought to be missing and Mr Kemp went back down to look for him but was overcome and staggering as Mr Jorgensen returned to the hold to his rescue. Mr Jorgensen was able to attach himself to a sling and was hauled up unconscious.

Lot also includes another handcrafted gold fob (9ct, 3.8g, 37x25mm) with engraved initials 'AEJ' on obverse; newspaper clippings housed in a scrapbook and a cigar tip cutter.