Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 987    SESSION 4 (4.30PM MONDAY 30TH AUGUST)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $300
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $550

NEWCASTLE ROCKET BRIGADE, presentation fob in voided gold (9ct; 10.94g; 27x35mm), by G.Bros, ring top suspension, obverse inscribed, 'TS', reverse inscribed, 'Presented to/T.Stratten./by members/N.R.B./as a token of esteem/14.7.17'. Name inscribed on obverse is worn, could be restored, otherwise fine.

The Newcastle Rocket Brigade was formed in 1866 as a support unit for the Newcastle Lifeboat Service. The Rocket Brigades were based on the north and south sides of Newcastle harbour and supported the lifeboats by using rocket launchers to fire ropes on to ships stranded along the 30-kilometre stretch of Stockton beach. The units last rescue attempt was in 1974. There is a memorial to the Lifeboats and the Brigades at Nobbys Beach on the walk to the Lighthouse at Newcastle East. Alderman T.Stratten was the Mayor of Stockton Council. This gold fob was presented to him and also to R.Gow, both retiring members of the Brigade, at a meeting at the Royal Hotel at Stockton.

It is of interest to note that in 1914, while not the mayor, alderman T.Stratten moved a motion, which was supported, to raise a half-squadron of Light Horse consisting of members from Stockton, Newcastle, Fullerton Cove, and Salt Ash because he considered that most of the intending members knew every inch of the country along the coastline and this would be of immense benefit to the Defence Department.