Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Royal Hu

Lot 3176    SESSION 11 (2.30PM WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER)    Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Royal Huma

Estimate $15,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $9,000

GROUP OF NINE: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; War Medal 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1937; Coronation Medal 1953; New Zealand Efficiency Decoration (GRI) (O&D.97); New Zealand Teritorial Service Medal (O&D.91, Wright reverse); New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (O&D.92, no maker). 45838 L/Cpl. J.L.Dighton N.Z.E.F. on the first and second medals; Capt. J.L.Dighton, Wellington Rgt. on the seventh medal; Lt. J.L.Dighton Wgton. Rgt. on the eighth and ninth medals. The first, second, eighth and ninth medals impressed, the seventh medal engraved, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth medals unnamed; also, Royal Humane Society of New Zealand Medal (Type 2, swivel suspender), struck in gold (15ct, tot wt 39.5g), by E & Co. (Elkington & Co Ltd, Cheapside), hallmark for London, 1913, suspender with ribbon and bar with pin-back, reverse inscribed 'Awarded/To/John L.Deighton [sic]/In Recognition of a/Very Conspicuous/Act of Bravery/1915' (O&D.126); N.B.H.S. (Napier Boys' High School), handcrafted in gold (9ct, 6.0g, 40x32mm), by J.L.Grieve (Gisborne), reverse inscribed 'Senior Champ/J.L.Dighton'; another, stock medal in silver (25mm), no maker, reverse inscribed 'Tournament/1914/J.Dighton'; another, in silver (30mm), no maker, reverse inscribed 'J.Dighton/2nd Long Jump/1915'; Napier High School No.3, NZ Cadets, Ladies Challenge Cup, uniface medal, struck in silver, English maker and hallmark, reverse inscribed 'Serg.J.Dighton'; L.D.S., hand engraved in silver and gold (36x36mm), no maker, reverse inscribed '2nd Prize/220 Yards'; Te Awa S.C., hand engraved in gold (9ct, 8.9g, 29x28mm), no maker, reverse inscribed 'Club Champnp./J.L.Dighton/1916'; N.Z.U.T., uniface, struck in bronze (32x33mm), by Bock (Wellington), reverse inscribed 'J.L.Dighton/V.U.C./880 Yds Flat/1920'; The Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit, struck in silver (29mm), English maker and hallmark, reverse inscribed 'J.L.Dighton'; another, For Life Saving Skill With Surf Life Line, struck in bronze (30mm), no maker, reverse inscribed 'J.Deighton [sic]/18.2.23'; another, Service Cross, struck in silver and enamel (30x28mm), on ribbon with pin-back bar, reverse inscribed 'J.L.Dighton'; another, Honorary Life Governor badge, in gilt and enamel (35x28mm), English maker, pin-back. Some of the group of nine medals mounted out of order on a bar as worn, the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand medal in Elkington case of issue (this broken), others loose, the last eleven (except where stated) with ring top suspensions, fine - extremely fine. (21)

Together with Wellington Regiment hat and collar badges; Silver War Badges (2) numbered NZ11848 and NZ26332; 1907 Royal Visit aluminium commemorative medal (M.1907/1); USA, Marines cap badge and 'Sharpshooter' medal; religious medal for League of the Sacred Heart and a NZ 1953-54 Royal Visit commemorative medal (M&P.1953-54/2).

WWI service - 45838 Cpl John Lyell Dighton 25th Reinforcements, Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company, NZEF, embarked from New Zealand 26th April 1917.

Royal Humane Society of New Zealand: Courtesy - Wills (p266-7): - Case Numbers: 418 and 419
John Lyell Dighton - Gold Medal
Henry Allen Evetts - Bronze Medal

"On the afternoon of 15 July 1915, Thomas James Stevenson, about 30, while apparently in a depressed state, walked into the sea off the Marine Parade Beach, Napier. An elderly man, Robert Lynam, was going in after him, but was prevented owing to the heavy sea running at the time. He then went to the Vulcan Foundry and raised the alarm.

John Dighton, 20, had come home from Napier Boys' High School and changed into football clothes when he heard there was a man in the surf. He ran to the beach, took off his boots and jersey, dived through the surf, and swam out to Stevenson, who was now lying face down in the water. He turned him over on his back and began towing him towards the shore. A big sea came up and he lost the body and it sank. He got the body again; with his legs cramped and becoming stiff, he had to let the body go. He then signalled the beach for help.

Meanwhile, Henry Evetts, a blacksmith's striker at the Vulcan Foundry, on hearing the alarm ran to the beach, took off his boots, and put on a lifebelt, having asked Robert Lynam to haul it off the reel for him. He then rushed into the surf, and although knocked back twice by the breakers, managed to get out. He swam 80 yards or so to Dighton, then to the body, a further 30 yards out. Evetts then signalled the shore to haul in. With Dighton also gripping the line, they were towed right in and the body was taken by others. Artificial resucitation was tried, but the man was dead. Robert Lynam, who had been awarded medals himself for earlier rescues, later said "I think it was very brave of Dighton going out. He was 8 to 10 minutes in the water. I know the beach well and know Dighton had a great risk. Dighton was exhausted when he came ashore, so was Evetts."

From "Hastings Standard", 15 November 1915, Courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past:

"SAVING OF LIFE - ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY'S HONOURS.
After presentations at the Napier Drill Hall on Saturday night, his Worship the Mayor (Mr.J.V.Brown, M.P.) took occasion to present to three Napier men awards from the Royal Humane Society. The first called to receive recognition was Mr.J.Dighton. His Worship said that he had much pleasure in presenting the awards. It was very pleasing to be able to say that a great number of medals came to Napier. He would like to refer to the record held by Mr.J.Knowles who had just returned wounded from the Dardanelles. Mr. Knowles had saved 14 lives, and had received every award it was possible to get. All through New Zealand swimmers had gone to the front. Mr. Dighton was getting the highest honour that could be conferred in this country. He hoped he might live long and save many more lives. He would present Mr. Dighton with a gold medallion and framed certificate for attempting to save the life of a man named Stevenson, who was drowned off the Marine Parade on December 10th.

The next to bo invited to step forward was Mr. H.Evetts, who helped Mr. Dighton in his work of rescue. His Worship, in presenting the certificate, congratulated Mr. Evetts on behalf of the people of Hawke's Bay and New Zealand on his efforts to help his friend.

Mr. A.Robertson was then presented with a bronze medallion and certificate for attempting to save Miss Millar, who was drowned in a very rough sea off the Marine Parade. His Worship said that the sea was one of the roughest ever seen in Napier. Miss Millar had got out of her depth, and Mr. Robertson had bravely tried to rescue her. Some people would not think so much of a man who tried but failed to rescue a person, as they would of a man who succeeded. However, he thought a man who tried to save a life was just as brave as a man who had saved half a dozen.

As each man was presented with the award he received three enthusiastic cheers from those present."

Until the end of 1998 only 11 of the Type 2 gold medal (1915-) had been awarded. Six awards of the Type 1 gold medal were made between 1898 and 1914.

See also lot 497 for a commemorative plaque of 1913 from The Vulcan Foundry Co.