The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Lot 2117    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    The Tom May Collection -British Groups

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,300

GROUP OF FOUR LIFESAVING AWARDS: Royal Humane Society Medal in silver (type 1); Royal National Lifeboat Institution Gold Boat; Royal Humane Society Medal in silver (type 1); Royal National Lifeboat Institution Medal in silver (GIVR). 'SOC:REG: HUMAN/Lieut. Leigh/R.N./VITAS/OB/SERVATAS/DONO/DEDIT/1832' on reverse of first medal; second award unnamed as issued; 'Lieut. T.Leigh./R.N./VIT.OB ALT.SERVM/REG.SOC.HUM./SECUNDO/DONO DAT/1834.' on reverse of third medal; 'Commander Thos Leigh R.N. Voted 7 Octr. 1835' on edge of last medal. All named medals engraved. Very fine - extremely fine.

Citations for awards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck to Thomas Leigh. 26 November 1830: In tremendous gale conditions, the collier brig Annabella was driven on shore off Winterton, Norfolk with water breaking over her and the crew in danger of drowning. With much difficulty Lieutenant Leigh and his crew put out in a boat and rescued seven men. 24 December 1830: On passage from Hull to London, the brig Henry went ashore off Winterton in bad weather. In great difficulty and danger, Lieutenant Leigh and his men took off the Master and three seamen by boat. Award: RNLI Gold Medal Lieutenant Thomas Leigh, RN, Chief Officer, HM Coastguard, Winterton (21 September 1831) (this medal not with lot). 20 March 1833: The ship Crauford Davison was totally wrecked in a heavy gale on Winterton Beach, Norfolk, north of Great Yarmouth. In conditions of great difficulty and danger, the Winterton lifeboat (Norfolk District Committee) launched with Lieutenant Leigh and a crew of 25 men. The ship's Master and his crew, 16 in all, were saved. The rescuers had been engaged on the beach from daybreak to 2pm sometimes up to their chests in water; they then manned the lifeboat, landing the survivors at 4pm just as the wreck rolled over and broke up. Award: RNLI Gold Boat to Lieutenant Thomas Leigh, RN, Chief Officer, HM Coastguard, Winterton (24 April 1833). Lieutenant was also awarded the Royal Humane Society's Silver Medal. 30 April 1835: When the collier Blackbird, Sunderland to London, went ashore near Winterton, Norfolk, in severe weather, the Master, Mate and two men were drowned. Lieutenant Leigh and a crew put out in the local private lifeboat and took off three seamen. Award: RNLI Silver Medal to Lieutenant Thomas Leigh, RN, HM Coastguard, Winterton (7 October 1835). Commander Thomas Leigh entered the Royal Navy in 1803 as a volunteer with the rate of Ordinary Seaman. He soon was promoted to Midshipman aboard the Conqueror with which ship he was present during Nelson's pursuit of Villeneuve's squadrons in 1805 as well as at his victory at Cape Trafalgar on 21 October. The Conqueror sailed in Nelson's windward squadron as fourth in line astern of the Victory and at 1.40pm engaged Villeneuve's flagship, the Bucentaure, shooting away both her main and mizzen masts and causing her to crash into the stern of the Santisima Trinidad, as a result of which she also smashed her foremast. Now unable to signal his fleet or sail to safety, Villeneuve struck his colours to the Conqueror. With the enemy's flagship out of the action, Conqueror moved on to deal with the Santisima Trinidad, her superior gunnery proving decisive as the latter ship was literally shot to pieces. During the battle, Conqueror suffered only three casualties. During the next eight years Leigh served as a Midshipman and Master's Mate in various ships, among them the Royal George and the Pilot in which vessel he participated in an action with seven large gunboats and five other armed ships at Amanthea in 1810. During the engagement a large number of enemy transports were destroyed or captured and Leigh was alluded to in official reports for his conduct. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 26 January 1814. Thomas Leigh's lifesaving feats commenced after his appointment to the Coast Guard on 4 December 1827 as Chief Officer at Winterton in Norfolk. In 1830 he participated in two rescues one on 26 November and another on 24 December which resulted in him being awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, the award being announced on 21 September 1831. In Leigh's letter to the Secretary of the Royal Humane Society dated 26 December 1830 he wrote of the rescue, 'I hastened, waist deep in snow, to the assistance of a brig, hull under water on that dangerous shoal, the Ness; with all hands lashed to the rigging. As they appeared to be too much exhausted to take advantage of a line thrown over her from a mortar, I directed a life-boat to be instantly sent for, we put off, and exerted ourselves to the utmost to near the wreck; but a strong flood tide sweeping us to leeward, and a tremendous surf breaking over us, we were compelled to put back; with, however, a determination on my part, if supported to make another attempt, I consulted with some of the most experienced, who considered another attempt, on which fifteen Winterton beachmen and four of my own crew volunteered, and the life-boat covered with ice, was again launched. By the greatest exertions, we got over the Bank. On which we struck several times with heavy seas breaking over us. Still we persevered, and happily succeeded in closing the wreck, and hearing our shouts feebly returned; but on veering a rope we found the poor fellows incapable of the last exertion. A most dreadful sight then presented itself - the wreck, embedded in a heavy surf, rocking to pieces; the master suspended from the main shrouds by his heels, a corpse, having bled to death from a wound received on her first striking; the rest of the crew (who had been twelve hours in this perilous situation), unable to move. Two men resolutely mounted the rigging, and handed them to us in the life-boat, over which several heavy surfs broke, throwing the beachmen into the most alarming confusion. However, we ultimately had the unspeakable satisfaction of safely landing the whole (with exception stated) amidst the acclamations of hundreds of spectators.' Awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society in 1832, Lieutenant Leigh was decorated again for his bravery in rescuing the crew of the barque, Crauford Davison, off Hasborough Sand on 19 March 1833. He was awarded the RNLI Gold Boat. In 1834 Lieutenant Leigh was awarded his second Royal Humane Society silver medal. Then, in 1835, he was recognised with the RNLI silver medal for rescuing three men from the brig, Blackbird on 30 April. This was to be his final award. On 23 June 1835 Leigh was promoted to the rank of Commander and retired. He died in 1846. With research.