Aust. Historical Medals

Lot 977    SESSION 4 (4.30PM MONDAY 30TH AUGUST)    Aust. Historical Medals

Estimate $900
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $750

ROYAL SHIPWRECK RELIEF & HUMANE SOCIETY OF N.S.W., bronze medal with ribbon and brooch bar (pin missing), reverse inscribed, 'James Glew/for saving Life/at Little Beach/6th March 1914'. Ribbon damaged, medal toned, otherwise good very fine.

An article in The Sun, Sydney on 19 April 1914, page 16 reported the following.
'SAVED THREE LIVES - A MODEST HERO
"Bravo, Jimmy!" exclaimed his fellow-workmen, as James Glew emerged from the surf at Little Coogee after having plunged in fully clothed and rescued a drowning woman. But Jimmy, with characteristic dislike of fuss, stepped aside, declined their outstretched hands, and made off home for a change of clothes. "It's only what I should have done," he remarked to one of them.

Jimmy Glew is an unostentatious hero. And were it not for the fact that others have talked, the chances are that three acts of bravery performed by him would be unknown, except to those who owe their lives to his daring.

Glew, who follows the plastering trade, is also an inveterate angler, and fills in most of his spare time at a favourite spot off the rocks at Little Coogee. For three years or more he has been a constant frequenter of that locality, and on an afternoon two years ago he distinguished himself by saving a man's life. The man was also fishing from the rocks, and in his enthusiasm had disregarded the rising tide. He was washed off. He was helpless, and was being badly battered by contact with the rocks when Glew, divesting himself of his boots and coat, jumped in. Being a strong swimmer, he brought the man round to a safe landing spot, and eventually got him up on to the rocks. A month later he rescued a little girl from almost certain death. The youngster was paddling close in, but being of the venturesome spirit she waded in beyond her depth, and immediately became at the mercy of an unusually strong current. Glew, who was the only fisherman on the rocks that day, had his attention arrested by the shrieks of the girl's mother, and diving in he was able to intercept her and bring her back.

After he had effected his third rescue, on the 6th of last month, Glew was offered a sum of money, and an order for a new suit of clothes; but he refused it, remarking, "I couldn't think of such a thing. I only did my duty."

On this occasion a young woman, a recent arrival from Newcastle, while surf-bathing at Little Coogee, was carried out by the current. Her screams were heard by the workmen at the new surf, sheds, and Glew, who had a sub-contract in the construction of those sheds, was first down to the water's edge. Without waiting to strip any of his clothing, he plunged in. He had to swim 80 yards, but he reached the woman, and after a game battle against the current ultimately got her to a landing place. His struggle had, however, weakened him so much that he was unable to lift her on to the rocks, and it required the assistance of a workman to complete the rescue.

His work has not been officially recognised, but surely he has qualified for the Royal Humane Society's medallion. Glew was born at Penrith, but now lives at 60 M'Kenzie-street, Waverley. He is 36 years old, and has had 24 years military service, having served in the Boer war.'

Finally, James Glew's heroism was recognised when this bronze medal was awarded to him for his bravery in swimming out, fully dressed, and without a line, from Little Coogee Beach, on March 6 1914 and saving the life of a young woman who had been carried out to sea by the strong current that was running.