Netherlands - Kingdom of: Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance, 3rd Class in Bronze, with forwarding letter to a British recipient, as awarded to John Henry David Perry of Northfleet, Kent, a waterman and lighterman for a cement works by trade, who was the Master of the steam cutter “Diamond” when he received this award for his bravery in rescuing a Dutch navigation pilot, P. van Beeck, on 19 December 1911. Awarded to him on 20 October 1912.
Netherlands - Kingdom of: Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance, 3rd Class in Bronze, 5th type 1912-current, bronze, reverse officially engraved: ‘J. PERRIJ.’, complete with original ribbon and attached safety pin wearing device, and housed in its fitted presentation case.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the original English language award notification letter for the award of this medal, No.3327, written from the office of the Netherlands Charge d’Affaire at 8 Grosvenor Gardens, London, signed by the same, and dated 20 October 1912. This notifying a British recipient, ‘Mr J. Perry’ ‘Master S/C “Diamond” of 10 Lawn Road, Northfleet, Kent’, that he is being awarded the ‘bronze Medal for Humanitarian Aid, with diploma, in recognition of the assistance rendered by you in the saving of the Dutch pilot P.van Beeck on December 19. last.’ This letter accompanied the medal and diploma, and the recipient was requested to acknowledge receipt of the award. This is an example of one of the very first of the new type of this award to be made.
As awarded to the Master of the steam cutter “Diamond”, one J. Perry of Northfleet, Kent, for his bravery in rescuing a Dutch navigation pilot, P. van Beeck, on 19 December 1911. Awarded to him on 20 October 1912. A check of the 1911 Census only shows one match, namely John Henry David Perry, aged 27, and waterman and lighterman for a cement works, who lived at the correct address, namely 10 Lawn Road, Northfleet, Kent, where he resided together with his wife, Annie Eliza Perry, aged 25, and their daughter, Ellen Alice Perry, born that year.
The Honorary Medal for Charitable Assistance (Dutch: Erepenning voor Menslievend Hulpbetoon) was created at 18 June 1822 and is after the Military William Order the oldest decoration for bravery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Honorary Medal is the highest civilian decoration still being awarded for bravery, and is specifically for those who carried out a voluntary act of bravery or self-sacrifice, with an emphasis on charity.
The medal can be awarded in gold, silver or bronze. Awarding is on basis by nomination of the Netherlands government and by royal decree. The golden medal has precedence only after the Dutch Cross of Resistance (also a civilian bravery decoration, but not awarded anymore), and the silver and bronze medals have precedence after the Airman’s Cross (a military bravery award).
