The very fine Boy Scouts Blackpool Lancashire North Shore of Blackpool Beach August 1935 Saving Life from the Sea Scout Association Gallantry Cross and Royal Humane Society Honorary Testimonial of the Society inscribed on Vellum, together with subsequent June 1958 Scout Association Medal of Merit, awarded Jack Holmes, a fifteen year old school boy and Patrol Leader with the 14th (Blackpool) Warley Road Group, who was twice decorated for his bravery in rescuing a man and a woman during two separate incidents within the period of half an hour at North Shore beach in rough sea on 21 August 1935. A well published local hero, he would recall that the current was very strong, and we were washed from the side of the breakwater to the other. Holmes appears to have gone on to work as the Scoutmaster to the 14th (Blackpool) Warley Road Group in the aftermath of the Second World War, and he was awarded the Medal of Merit on 18 June 1958.
Scout Association Gallantry Cross, Silver award, makers marks for Collins, London, hallmarked for Birmingham with date letter ‘H’ for 1932, reverse engraved: ‘J. HOLMES 2-10-35’, complete with original ribbon and top wearing brooch bar.
Royal Humane Society Honorary Testimonial of the Society inscribed on Vellum, as awarded to: John Holmes who ‘is justly entitled to the Honorary Testimonial of the Society inscribed on Vellum which is nearby awarded him for having on the 21st August 1935 gone to the rescue of two persons who were in imminent danger of drowning in the sea at Blackpool, and whose lives he gallantly saved.’ Voted to him at a meeting held by the Royal Humane Society on 8 October 1935, with Admiral Cresswell J. Eyres, D.S.O., Treasurer in the Chair. This signed in ink ‘Edward R’ for Edward, Prince of Wales, additionally signed in ink by both Eyres as Chairmaan and all the Treasurer. This framed.
Boy Scout's Medal of Merit, reverse engraved; (J. HOLMES 18.6.58), this complete with top brooch pin.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with the following:
Newspaper page from the West Lancashire Evening Gazette for 22 August 1935, this with image of recipient and article titled: ‘Gallant Boy Scout - Assists in two Sea Rescues - at North Shore - Man and Woman brought to safety’.
Newspaper page from the West Lancashire Evening Gazette for 15 October 1935, this with image of recipient and article titled: ‘Jack Holmes - Silver Cross for Gallantry - Honour for Boy Scout’ and detailing his award and the incident for which he earned it.
Newspaper cutting, article titled: ‘Gallant Boy Scout’, this being image and details showing Lieutenant General Sir Matthew Fell, K.C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.S., the County Commissioner for Boy Scouts in North West Lancashire, being present for the Blackpool Scouts’ swimming gala at Blackpool Lido, during which Jack Holmes, who was participating in the swimming gala, was presented with his Scout Association Gallantry Cross in Silver, together with the Certificate for the same which was signed by the Chief Scout.
Newspaper cutting from the West Lancashire Evening Gazette, this with not date shown, but bears an image of Jack Holmes meeting Sir William Forrest O.B.E., J.P., this titled: ‘Greeting for Hero’.
Old press photograph from the West Lancashire Evening Gazette, showing Jack Holmes being presented with his award by Lieutenant General Sir Matthew Fell, K.C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.S., the County Commissioner for Boy Scouts in North West Lancashire.
A fine photograph of Jack Holmes in his Boy Scouts uniform, showing sitting on a wall and wearing his Scout Association Gallantry Cross in Silver.
Also a tunic medal ribbon bar for the Second World War awards of the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal. Presumably as earned by Jack Holmes.
Jack Holmes came from Blackpool, Lancashire, and lived at Holmfield Road, North Shore. He was a fifteen year old schoolboy and member of the Boy Scouts, being a Patrol Leader with the 14th (Blackpool) Warley Road Group. During 1935 he became a local hero and took part in the rescue of two people within the period of half an hour on 21 August 1035, this being a man and a woman, who separately, had got into difficulty in the rough sea at “Pebbly Beach” near to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which is located at the bottom of Duchess Drive. He regularly bathed in this beach .
The West Lancashire Evening Gazette for 22 August 1935 would detail his gallantry. ‘Whilst playing on the beach with some companions he noticed a woman bather in difficulties in a choppy sea. He dashed into the water, and with the assistance of Beach Patrol Fuller brought her to safety. Two other men also helped in the rescue. The woman was able to go home with friends after receiving attention.
Holmes was later resting with a friend, Edward Boardman, aged 18, a clerk of Holmfield Road, on a stone breakwater not far from the same spot, when there was a cry for help from a man bather who was struggling in the surf. The two friends plunged into the water and swam 30 yards to the man, who was found to be in a very exhausted condition. They swam with him to the breakwater, and later helped him to the sands, where he revived after a rest.
There were many callers at the shop in Holmfield Road kept by the parents of Jack Holmes, to congratulate him on his plucky sea rescues. Among them was the Reverend John Clayton of the Claremont Congregational Church, who told the “Evening Gazette” that he considered Jack had shown unusual pluck. Jack modestly told an “Evening Gazette” reporter that he frequently bathed at “Pebbly beach” where the rescues were effected, and which is at the bottom of Duchess Drive.
“There was a kind of current or back-wash from the waves, and I have never known conditions quite so bad for bathing,” he said. “The woman brought out was unconscious when we reached her, and she did not even struggle. The man was in difficulties, and shouted to me and my friend for assistance. I went in, but the current was very strong, and we were washed from the side of the breakwater to the other. He was a powerfully-built man, and I felt I had more than I could manage and I called for my friend Ted Boardman, who came and gave me a hand with him,” he said.
Jack is a pupil at Palatine School, and is a keen swimmer, holding the Royal Lifesaving Society’s bronze medallion. He is a member of the Blackpool Amateur Swimming Club, and was formerly a member of the South Shore Swimming Club. He is also a patrol leader in the Boy Scouts attached to the Claremont Congregational Church.’
Holmes became a local hero, and his bravery swiftly led to recommendations for awards from both the Boy Scouts Association and the Royal Humane Society.
On 2 October 1935, the Boy Scouts Association awarded him its second highest award, the Scout Association Gallantry Cross in Silver, this being presented to him by Lieutenant General Sir Matthew Fell, K.C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.S., the County Commissioner for Boy Scouts in North West Lancashire, being presented during the Blackpool Scouts’ swimming gala at Blackpool Lido. Holmes was himself participating in the swimming gala, and received the award whilst wearing his swimming costume.
Further to this, the Royal Humane Society voted him during a meeting held on 8 October 1935, to be awarded the Royal Humane Society Honorary Testimonial of the Society inscribed on Vellum. The citation read that Holmes ‘is justly entitled to the Honorary Testimonial of the Society inscribed on Vellum which is nearby awarded him for having on the 21st August 1935 gone to the rescue of two persons who were in imminent danger of drowning in the sea at Blackpool, and whose lives he gallantly saved.’ This was signed off by Edward, the Prince of Wales in his capacity as President of the Royal Humane Society.
Holmes appears to have gone on to see service during the Second World War during the campaign in North West Europe, but he was not finished with the Boy Scouts Association, as he was the recipient of the Medal of Merit on 18 June 1958, this being awarded to him for at least 12 years service to the Scout Association, and therefore he may well have been the Scoutmaster to the 14th (Blackpool) Warley Road Group on his return from military service.
