Australian Groups

Lot 3886    Session 13 (2.30pm Thursday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $12,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $12,000

PAIR, Bravery Medal; Stanhope Gold Medal; Anthony Shane Day, 7 July 1997, Engraved. Good extremely fine and very rare and only the second South Australian to receive the Stanhope Gold Medal, this the last to be issued in gold.

Together with BM miniature, lapel badge and colour bar in Royal Australian Mint case. Royal Humane Society's Stanhope Medal in Spink & Son case of issue, Citation signed by Sir William Deane 23 August 1999 in official presentation folder, album of newsclippings, photos etc. Citation States: Be it known that, with the authority of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second, Queen of Australia, I have awarded the BRAVERY MEDAL to ANTHONY SHANE DAY in recognition of an act of bravery in hazardous circumstances. Citation - On the morning of 7 July 1996, Mr. Day rescued two children from a burning building at Davoren Park. Mr Day, on hearing screams, was alerted to a fire in the house across the road. On running to assist, he saw a woman lying down in the front yard and heard her screaming that her three children were still inside. Mr. Day then heard screams coming from within the house. He immediately entered the house through the front door. Thick smoke made breathing difficult, forcing Mr. Day to crawl on his hands and knees. Mr Day crawled into the loungeroom that was located at the front of the house, Mr. Day called out to the children in an attempt to locate them as the smoke had reduced visibility considerably. He found a small girl in the corner of the room. Mr Day picked her up and ran with the child out through the front entrance. Mr. Day handed the child to the mother and immediately re-entered the house, crawling again on his hands and knees until he located a small boy under the window in the loungeroom. Mr. Day picked up the boy and ran outside. Mr Day, believing the third child was still trapped in another part of the house, ran around to the back of the house to attempt a re-entry but, on arrival, saw the third child being brought safely outside. By his actions, Mr Day displayed considerable bravery. Given at Government House, Canberra this twenty-third day of August 1999.