Medal is a Lifesaver
A gold lifesaving medal, awarded to Samuel Lake by 150 years ago, is estimated to sell for up to £10,000 in the Charterhouse two day auction on Thursday 15th & Friday 16th December,
“Samuel Lake was awarded a gold Albert Medal in 1866 for saving 450 Muslim pilgrims. Returning from Mecca, the pilgrims were aboard the sailing ship Diamond which ran into trouble and was wrecked off Candy Breach, Bombay, India.” Commented Richard Bromell. “Instituted in March 1866, Samuel Lake was the second recipient to be awarded a gold Albert Medal, named in memoriam of Prince Albert, in June the same year.”
Born in Dartmouth in 1842, Samuel Lake left the town setting sail as a cabin boy on a schooner, where his travels took him to India where he spearheaded the rescue of the Muslim pilgrims in 1866. Returning to Dartmouth the hero, he went into business and built up a fleet of 20 trawlers. For his trawler crews he built Coombe Terrace Cottages in Dartmouth which were the first houses to be made from poured concrete.
Samuel Lake died in 1887, but only after he had been awarded two more lifesaving awards. In 1880 he received the Vellum Award, one of the highest awards issued by the RNLI, in 1880 for saving life off Milford Haven and in 1887 he was awarded a Swedish Gold Bravery Medal, posthumously, for saving the crew of the Swedish ship Ida, when it was wrecked off Corsica.
Just 25 gold Albert Medals were awarded for saving life at sea from 1866 until 1971 when the Albert Medal was replaced by the George Cross.
Entered into the Charterhouse auction by the Great, Great, Great Grandson, of Samuel Lake, it is the first time it has been offered for sale on the open market. The owner, who inherited the medal and photograph of Samuel Lake from his father, decided to sell the medal at Charterhouse as it has just been living in a cupboard out of sight. It is estimated to sell for £8,000-10,000 when it goes under the Charterhouse hammer at their Long Street Salerooms in Sherborne, Dorset on Thursday 15th December.
Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for their winter programme of auctions including pictures, prints, books and antiques in January with a special section of automobilia. They are also taking entries for their February specialist sales of classic and vintage motorcycles closely followed by classic and vintage cars being held at The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet.
For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Richard Bromell at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 or email items for valuation at info@charterhouse-auction.com
