Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Royal Hu

Lot 3178    SESSION 11 (2.30PM WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER)    Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Royal Huma

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND, bronze medal (38mm), by Mayer & Kean, Wellington, suspender with ribbon, reverse inscribed 'Awarded to Robert Macfarlane Sloan/for an Act/of Bravery/26th Dec.1934' (O&D.126). Cased, extremely fine.

Case Number: 736

On the evening of 26 December 1933, a party of bathers were caught by the undertow at Wainui Beach, Gisborne. Jack Beckett, 18, who had been with them, scrambled up the sand-hills to raise the alarm, and with others rushed back to the surf. After a struggle, he brought Miss Lois Matthews, 15, ashore. Although exhausted by this rescue, he continued giving aid in getting the other endangered swimmers ashore.

Robert Sloan, 32, in a passing car, was stopped and asked for help. He rushed to the shore, undressed, and swam beyond the line of the surf to Ralph H.Matthews, 20, and Misses Yvonne L.Harris, 19, and Lorraine E.Harris, 17. Sloan realised that their best chance of getting ashore was to save effort. Helping Matthews to calm the ladies' fears, and assisting each girl in turn, he got them to a point where the undertow was less. Then, in a battle with the surf, they fought their way to where willing hands grasped them and helped them on to solid footing. Although a powerful swimmer, Sloan's efforts in the water lasted half an hour and he was absolutely exhausted by the time he had completed the rescue. He risked his life to save the lives of others. (Courtesy - Wills p335).