A good Sydney Harbour Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a successful act, 3rd small type, awarded to William Symons, Chief Quartermaster, HMS Dart, Royal Navy for saving the life of William Deslie on 8th February 1888, when Deslie, drunk, fell 15ft into the water near Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour, Symons jumped in fully clothed and brought him to shore, holding him up for 10 to 15 minutes before a rope was lowered. The casualty was ‘insensible’ when rescued.
Royal Humane Society Lifesaving Medal in Bronze for a successful act, 3rd small type; (WM. SYMONS. CHIEF Q. MASTER. H.M.S DART. 8TH FEBY 1888.)
Condition: minor contact wear, Very Fine
William Henry Symons was born on 4th October 1856 at St. Martin’s, Cornwall. When he joined the Navy is not yet clear but he is first shown as serving in Achilles which he had joined on 6th May 1874 as a Boy 1st Class. On 4th October 1874, his 18th birthday, he engaged for 10 years as a Devonport rating. He was 5’ 5” tall with light hair and a fresh complexion. When re-engaging ten years later, he had risen to 5’ 7” tall, his eyes had changed to blue and he had a fair complexion.
He would advance to Ordinary Seaman on 1st December 1876 and to Able Seaman on 1st March 1877 whilst in Shah, and to Leading Seaman on 1st May 1882 whilst in Agincourt. He was promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st October 1883 whilst in Cambridge, and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 5th August 1885 on his arrival in Dart for the first time, but he was only in her until 15th November 1885 before being sent to Nelson for a few months until 11th May 1886.
He then returned to Dart and 13 months later, was advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer (and Acting Chief Quartermaster) on 7th June 1887, being confirmed as a CPO on 12th June 1888.
This award of the Royal Humane Society on 19th June 188 as case No. 23593, the casualty was a painter called William Deslie, aged 55, living in Sydney. At 6pm on 8th February 1888 at Circular Quay on the south side of Sydney Harbour, Deslie was drunk and, whilst sitting on the edge of the quay; he lost his balance and fell 15ft into the water, the depth of which was 30ft. Symons came up afterwards and, seeing Deslie in a sinking condition (his head being under the water), he jumped in with all his clothes on, swam to the man brought him back to the piles where, with great difficulty, he held him up for 10 or 15 minutes before a rope was lowered. The casualty was ‘insensible’ An (unstated) ‘pecuniary reward’ was sent to the Secretary of the Admiralty ten days after the Committee meeting.
He remained a Chief Petty Officer for the rest of his career. He was pensioned on 5th October 1899 at the age of 43. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport on 12th April 1901 from which he was discharged on 4th October 1906 on his 50th birthday. In the meanwhile, it seems that he had been appointed an Assistant Warder at Bodmin Naval Prison but for what period is not known.
