A good Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze, 2nd large type awarded to 13 year old George Berry for his bravery in saving the life of a 4 year old child from the River Ribble in Preston on New Years Day 1858. The child James Osbaldeston, fell off the Tram-road bridge into the deep portion of the river, seen by Berry, he plunged into the river with the view of saving the child’s life, seized with cramp, he returned, but made a second attempt despite the dissuasion of parties on the bank and succeeding landing the child safely.
Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze, 2nd large type; (GEORGE BERRY, 1 January 1858)
Condition: Suspension neatly added for wearing, Good Very Fine
George Berry, 13 years old, would receive his Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for the rescue of a 4 year old child from the River Ribble in Preston on New Year’s Day. Local newspapers later reporting:
‘On New Year’s Day a child, four years old, named James Osbaldeston, fell off the Tram-road bridge into the deep portion of the river known as the ‘stone delph’. He was seen by Berry (who is only thirteen years of age), who gallantly plunged into the river with the view of saving the child’s life. He was seized with cramp, and returned, but he made a second attempt, in spite of the dissuasion of parties on the bank, and succeeded in landing the child safely. This was the second life he had thus saved from a watery grave. Mr. Barge of Beach Mount, Manchester, brought the facts under the consideration of the Royal Humane Society, with the successful result named. Mr. Barge received the medal from the society, and forwarded it to Mr. Hollins, Berry’s employer, with a request that he would hand it to the lad. That gentleman did so on Wednesday last, in the presence of Berry’s parents, and a few other person. Mr. Hollins made a few appropriate remarks, commending the act which he was deputed to reward.’
