IDENTIFIERS
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id:	156624
accession number:	CM.6241-2007

DATE AUDIT
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created:	Saturday 6 August 2011
updated:	Friday 26 July 2019

DESCRIPTIVE DATA
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object type: The Sea Gallantry Medal was the first official medal rewarding civilian gallantry at sea. Designed by William Wyon, it was instituted by the Board of Trade in 1855, and is awarded by the sovereign of Great Britain on the Board's President's recommendation. It is awarded in silver and bronze, and in its initial size as seen here was not intended to be worn, although this piece bears the remains of a suspension at the top indicating that the recipient did attempt to wear it. In 1903 the medal was reduced in size so that it could be worn in uniform. This example of the medal was awarded to Henry (or "Harry") Meader, one of the crew of the Ramsgate lifeboat who set out to rescue the crew of the wrecked Indian Chief off Clacton Sands on the night of 5th/6th January 1881. This justly famous rescue became the subject of a poem by William McGonagal, but the reader may think Meader's medal a more ageless tribute to his bravery.
title:	Sea Gallantry Medal

NOTES
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type: history note
value: From a collection bequeathed by Mr McKee to the Art Fund, which has allowed various museums to make selections from it


LICENSING
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text license status:	CC0
image license status:	CC-BY-NC-SA

OWNERSHIP
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instutition: The Fitzwilliam Museum
department: Coins and Medals
collection:	McKee Collection

STABLE URL
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url:	https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156624





CATEGORIES
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category: medal

DATING
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creation date:	1881 - 1881
creation date earliest:	1881
creation date latest:	1881

CREATORS
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maker: Victoria (1837-1901)
maker: V. R.
maker: Wyon, Benjamin
maker: Board of Trade
maker: London


CITATIONS
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Wreck of the Indian Chief. Noble Service of the "Bradford" Life-Boat
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