{"id":765,"date":"2024-03-22T13:40:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T13:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seswpcourse.hosted7.connect.ie\/?p=765"},"modified":"2024-03-25T14:48:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:48:03","slug":"tayleur-fund-medal-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seswpcourse.hosted7.connect.ie\/index.php\/2024\/03\/22\/tayleur-fund-medal-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Tayleur Fund Medal Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tayleur fund for the succour of shipwrecked strangers<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

Edward J Bourke<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"Medal\"

Tayleur Medal<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The sailing ship\u00a0Tayleur<\/i>\u00a0was wrecked in January 1854 at Lambay with the loss of 220 of the 670 aboard. A fund was established in both Liverpool and Dublin to assist the victims. The fund was chaired by Lord Talbot de Malahide and prominent among the committee were Mr Stokes and Mr Pim and Mr Andrew Parker. The meetings were at their offices in Commercial Buildings, Dame Street. The fund paid out sums to the survivors and paid for coffins and burial of the victims. The \u00a3600 residue of the fund was used to award medals for heroism in the Irish Sea. This residue was invested in common stock and the trustees at eth time were Alexander Parker, Lord Talbot, and Thomas Bewley with Augustus Russel as secretary.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nThere is considerable doubt about how many medals and cash awards were made as newspaper accounts seem incomplete and in some cases vague. Electronic searches of the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Belfast Newsletter and Freemans Journal have brought out new information but there are known medal awards whose details have not been discovered.. It appears that medals were not awarded posthumously and there is some confusion in accounts about similar awards by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent society. No comprehensive list has been found but much information must have been in the affidavit at the time of the wind up of the fund. A fuller search of the personal papers of Lord Talbot, Mr Jameson or Mr Power might yet yield a copy of the affidavit made on winding up the fund (the original being presumed lost in the Four Courts fire 1922) or even the minute books. There is no reason to believe that the list below is comprehensive.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn the early days of the Fund cash awards were made for rescue work and money given to the surviving seamen to accommodate and assist them. After the 1861 wreck of the Industry and Neptune at Kingstown (D\u00fan Laoghaire) the Fund decided to award medals to the rescuers but no medals were granted to the six men who lost their lives. These men received RNLI medals. William Huchison (Harbourmaster) thanked the trustees of the fund for the donation of \u00a310 given to the widows and orphans of the crews of the\u00a0Industry<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0Neptune<\/i>. The Tayleur Fund acted as an initial repository of funds for a memorial to Boyd and his men.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"Tayleur\"

Tayleur<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There was a strong sense of hierarchical order in the accounts of medal award meetings and gentleman medal holders such as Lt Dyer, Sir Ralph Cusack, Sir George Grey and Captain Hutchison were became involved in the committee. The committee was based at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in Dame Street and consisted of Lord Talbot de Malahide and his son who succeeded him, Mr Pim a merchant, Mr Alexander Parker, Mr Wm Hogg and Mr Frederick Stokes. At the wind up, James Talbot Power and John Jameson (distillers) Frank V Martin and J Harold Pim formed committee.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nA medal is on display at the coastguard station in Howth. The Luke Malone medal in the National Museum (Went collection) was sold in London in 1929 to A.H. Baldwin, later sold to a Galway solicitor, Comerford and sold at Adams to Went in 1976. The discovery of a hitherto undocumented medal in the Maritime Museum in D\u00fan Laoghaire has prompted a revision of the information to hand. Several medals are in a private collection. The medals were made by Richardsons of College Green, Dublin and are silvered or gilded. The blanks are base metal awaiting silvering or gilding. A vague story suggests that a medal or box of unawarded, uninscribed, medals was found in a basement in O\u2019Connell Street after a fire (Possibly 1916 or 1922). This could have been a jeweller\u2019s premises. The case of Carton\u2019s medal was described at auction as fire damaged but this happened in America. Margaret Spreadborough of 6 Belmont Knockavery Youghal wrote to the Irish Times in 1957 seeking information about a medal relating to the\u00a0Ada<\/i>\u00a0rescue which she had in her possession.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No<\/span><\/td>\nAwardee<\/span><\/td>\nDate<\/span><\/td>\nGrade<\/span><\/td>\nRescue<\/span><\/td>\nLocation<\/span><\/td>\nLocation of medal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/span><\/td>\nBernard Burke<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nNeptune\/Industry<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Burke<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/span><\/td>\nHugh McNeill Dyer<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nG<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/span><\/td>\nJames Beer<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nDuiblin<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/span><\/td>\nGeorge Biddlecombe<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/span><\/td>\nJoseph Sweeney<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nSold 16 December 2003 Dix Noonan Webb London<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/span><\/td>\nDenis Deneen<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nIndustry<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Boyd<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n\n

NMM<\/abbr>\u00a0“Medal 0541”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

9<\/span><\/td>\nGeorge Doherty<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n\n

NMM<\/abbr>\u00a0“Medal 0540”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Walsh<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nG<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Wick<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n6 May 1992 sold \u00a3250\u00a0DNW<\/abbr>\u00a0also Dec 2010<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\nRichard Wingate<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nauctioned 12 Dec 2012 at\u00a0DNW<\/abbr>. Now in Dublin<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Wright<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nUK<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/span><\/td>\nPeter Kane<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/span><\/td>\nThomas McGonigal<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/span><\/td>\nArchibald McLenahan<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/span><\/td>\nLuke Malone<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nIn National Museum, Collins Baracks, Went Collection. Press 11 drawer 4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Newham<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/span><\/td>\nGeorge Robertson<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/span><\/td>\nJames Twomey<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/span><\/td>\nGeorge Farrin<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nIn Collection<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Ferguson<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Ferris<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Fynes<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nPhoto in catalogue of medal types RW Colln.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Griffiths<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nV&A Museum London<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Heron<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/span><\/td>\nPeter Holland<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/span><\/td>\nLt William Hutchison<\/span><\/td>\n9 Feb 1861<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAs above<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nIn collection<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/span><\/td>\nHenry Crout<\/span><\/td>\n19-9-1863<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nRescue<\/span><\/td>\nMersey<\/span><\/td>\n28 July 1993 sold, ex-Stansfield Collection. \u00a3520<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/span><\/td>\nEdward Gray<\/span><\/td>\nJan 1869<\/span><\/td>\nG<\/span><\/td>\nBlue Vein<\/span><\/td>\nBallybrack<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Freeney<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 1869<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nBlue Vein<\/span><\/td>\nBallybrack<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Hill<\/span><\/td>\n4-10-1869<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nEonota<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Biss<\/span><\/td>\n4 October 1869<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nEonota<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nSold Bloomsbury 12\/5\/1995 \u00a3450 RW Colln.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/span><\/td>\nJames Doyle<\/span><\/td>\n4 October 1869<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nEonota<\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\nMaritime Museum D\u00fan Laoghaire<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/span><\/td>\nWm Jones<\/span><\/td>\n21 June 1872<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nSt Columba<\/span><\/td>\nThe Skerries ( Wales )<\/span><\/td>\n2nd<\/sup>\u00a0officer LMS steamer<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/span><\/td>\nRobert Ellison<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nSarah Anne<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/span><\/td>\nWm Scantlebury<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nSarah Anne<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38<\/span><\/td>\nThomas Woodley<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nSarah Anne<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\nAt Howth Coast Guard station<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/span><\/td>\nLot Smye<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nSarah Anne<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Davis<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAda<\/span><\/td>\nPortrane<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
41<\/span><\/td>\nJoseph Davis<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAda<\/span><\/td>\nPortrane<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Davis<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAda<\/span><\/td>\nPortrane<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/span><\/td>\nRichard Twohig<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAda<\/span><\/td>\nPortrane<\/span><\/td>\nSold 17-9-2009 \u00a32,400 RW Colln.<\/span>
\nSold 16-5-2016 undisclosed<\/span>
\nDublin<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
44<\/span><\/td>\nCharles SmartSpink 1985 exhibition incorrectly says Stuart<\/span><\/td>\n2 February 1873<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nAda<\/span><\/td>\nPortrane<\/span><\/td>\nEx Feyer colln Lot 179 Dix Noonan Webb London 25-9-08 \u00a3700 RWColln.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45<\/span><\/td>\nJames Carton<\/span><\/td>\n26-2-1875<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nBelle Hill<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\nW. H. Fevyer Collection sold \u00a3650 RW Colln.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
46<\/span><\/td>\nJohn Carvin<\/span><\/td>\n26 February 1875<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nBelle Hill<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
47<\/span><\/td>\nJames Murphy<\/span><\/td>\n26 February 1875<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nBelle Hill<\/span><\/td>\nBalbriggan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/span><\/td>\nEdmund Dayrell<\/span><\/td>\n20 September 1878<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nHMS\u00a0Alexandra<\/i><\/span><\/td>\nKingstown<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/span><\/td>\nWilliam Wisnom<\/span><\/td>\nunknown<\/span><\/td>\nS<\/span><\/td>\nRescue in Belfast Lough<\/span><\/td>\nAntrim<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
49<\/span><\/td>\nSir Ralph Cusack<\/span><\/td>\nHad a medal in his possession<\/span><\/td>\n?<\/span><\/td>\nboard member<\/span><\/td>\nawardee?<\/span><\/td>\nObit Irish Times 4 March 1910<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nwhite metal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n2 June 2011 for sale by Robert Moffatt USA<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nwhite metal<\/span><\/td>\nMight be same as above<\/span><\/td>\nStacks Bowers Galleries Baltimore $130<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nwhite metal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nPrivate hands Dublin KS<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGilt metal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nUK House of Commons Sir Arnold Wilson\u2019s collection<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhite metal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nTasmania TMAG donated by Lord Talbot de Malahide<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhite metal uniface<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nHull Museum UK<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nBronze<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nNMM<\/abbr>\u00a0“Medal 0542”<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnawarded<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nWhite metal uniface<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\nNMM<\/abbr>\u00a0“Medal 0541”<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nUnknown<\/span><\/td>\nNo details<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nemail<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tayleur Fund Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n

Proteus<\/span><\/h3>\n

About 1856 the crew of the Proteus were rescued by the crew of the Smack Sarah and they were awarded \u00a330. A further \u00a311 was given to the Sailors home for the seamen\u2019s accommodation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kish – France et Brazil<\/span><\/h3>\n

When the France et Brazil was wrecked on the Kish bank in 1858 The Fund gave the crew \u00a330. Their rescuers on the Mary of Carnavon were given \u00a312.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"Site

Site of the rescue on the East Pier<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mary of Carnavon<\/span><\/h3>\n

On 8-11-1858 six Balbriggan fishermen received \u00a325 for their work in the rescue of the crew of the\u00a0Mary of Carnavon<\/i>. Four Skerries fishermen whose work had been less dangerous were awarded a smaller amount.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neptune \/ Industry – Kingstown Rescue<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Kingstown guard ship and coastguard training ship was the\u00a0Ajax<\/i>\u00a0moored at Kingstown harbour. During the fierce storm of 8-2-1861 the\u00a0Industry<\/i>\u00a0and the\u00a0Neptune<\/i>\u00a0were driven on the pier at Kingstown. A rescue party of about 40 men led by Captain Boyd went to the pier from the\u00a0Ajax<\/i>. The captain and five seamen were lost during the rescue attempts. Mr Alexander Parker chairman of the Tayleur fund said that it had \u00a3600 available and silver medals were awarded to 22 seamen and Lt Hutchison the Harbour Master and Police Constable Deneen. The sailors were, George Farrin, William Ferguson, Bernard Burke, William Wright, Thomas McGonigal, John Griffiths, William Heron, James Beer, John Burke, John Newham, William Wick, William Boyd, George Robinson, William Fynes, William Ferris, Peter Kane, George Docherty, Archibald McLenahan, George Biddlecombe, Richard Wingate, Luke Malone and Peter Holland.<\/span>
\n\u00a0<\/span>
\nThere were RNLI medals presented to Captain Boyd, Lt Dyer, Gunner Farrin, James Twomey, Lt William Hutchison (Royal Dublin Militia) Lt Richard Parsons, Mr John Walsh the Lloyds agent who had assisted the\u00a0Tayleur<\/i>\u00a0victims was awarded a Lloyds silver medal for his work at the Neptune rescue. No awards of any kind were made to the men lost with Boyd \u2013 Curry, Forsyth, Johnson, Russell, Murphy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Liverpool rescue<\/span><\/h3>\n

On 17-9-1863 Henry E Crout an AB of HMS\u00a0Edgar<\/i>, which was at Liverpool , saw a woman accidentally fall from a landing stage into the water. He jumped into the water and a she had become exhausted he supported her until they were picked up by a boat and taken back to HMS\u00a0Edgar<\/i>. The incident was witnessed by Captain Hornby and the Admiralty subsequently sent the details to the Royal Humane Society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue Vein Rescue<\/span><\/h3>\n

The\u00a0Blue Vein<\/i>\u00a0ran ashore at Ballybrack in January 25-9-1868 . Gray and his driver John Freeney waded out to the vessel and Gray swam out with a rope saving five people. Their Tayleur medals were awarded 2 January 1869.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kingstown Rescue<\/span><\/h3>\n

A silver medal was presented to William Biss, James Doyle and John Hill of HMS Royal George for their lifesaving work on 4 October 1869. The Eonota had run aground on the east pier at Kingstown and several boats from the Royal George went to assist. James Doyle\u2019s medal has been discovered in the Maritime museum Dun Laoghaire in 2011.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kingstown Regatta<\/span><\/h3>\n

While divisional officer of the coastguard at Kingstown E.M Dayrell was presented with the “Tayleur” silver medal for saving the life of E. Dunn, who was blown overboard (with the loss of one hand and injury to the other) by the premature discharge of a gun he was loading on board a steamer on the occasion of the Kingstown Regatta, 7 July 1878. Commander Dayrell jumped overboard, brought the man to the ship’s side, and supported him until assistance was rendered. The Commissioners of Irish Lights officially recognized this act of gallantry, and the Royal Humane Society presented him with a testimonial on vellum.<\/span><\/p>\n

St Columba<\/span><\/h3>\n

The LMS mail boat St Columba ran ashore at the Skerries near Holyhead on 21-6-1872 and the passengers were rescued with the assistance of the second officer of the LMS steamer \u2013 William Jones. He was awarded a Tayleur silver medal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sarah Anne Balbriggan Rescue<\/span><\/h3>\n

When the coastguard saw the\u00a0Sarah Anne<\/i>\u00a0in danger on 2 February 1873 they sent for the Skerries Lifeboat to assist. The Skerries Coastguard turned out but the Skerries Lifeboat men refused to answer the call. A scratch crew of volunteers and coastguards manned the boat but a heavy sea capsized the lifeboat when the exhausted crew could no longer keep her head to the seas. The life boat self righted and three men managed to stay aboard, a fourth was pulled in by the three but seven men were lost. Four Tayleur medals were awarded to the coastguard men who had manned the lifeboat and survived. Robert Ellison, William Scantlebury, Lot Syme, Thomas Woodley were the recipients. One of the medals is inscribed “Presented to William Scantlebury, Coastguard for distinguished courage in endeavouring at great peril to save life at the wreck of the\u00a0Sarah Ann<\/i>\u00a0at Balbriggan 1st & 2nd February 1873″<\/span><\/p>\n

Ada Portrane<\/span><\/h3>\n

On 2 February 1873 during the same storm the\u00a0Ada<\/i>\u00a0was wrecked at Portrane. The Malahide Coastguard arrived shortly after she struck rocks 600 yards off shore. The crew lashed themselves in the rigging. Rocket rescue failed and the coastguard boat was too far away to be brought. Joseph Davis assisted by his brothers John and William and Joseph Smart. They were joined by coastguard Richard Twohig and the five went out in a small boat, they cut down the crew but the captain\u2019s son had died of the cold. The crew of the small boat were awarded Tayleur medals as far as can be ascertained because Twohig\u2019s medal has been sold. The newspaper account of the medal award for the\u00a0Sarah Anne<\/i>\u00a0rescue mentions only a cash award to the Ada rescuers. It is possible that the committee reviewed their decision and awarded medals later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belle Hill at Balbriggan<\/span><\/h3>\n

On 26 February 1875 the\u00a0Belle Hill<\/i>\u00a0went on the rocks at Balbriggan, the rocket lines became entangled but some of the crew used the lines to reach some nearby rocks. Three local men waded to the rocks and pulled the crewmen higher out of the reach of the seas. A small coastguard boat was brought and it took the men from the rocks to the shore. The lifeboat was en route when it could not pass under the railway bridge. The conduct of the three men Carton, Carvin and Murphy was praised by the coroner but there are no details of awards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belfast Lough<\/span><\/h3>\n

Captain William Wisnom was awarded a Tayleur medal for saving life in Belfast Lough. But the date and details are unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eden Quay<\/span><\/h3>\n

On 15 May 1878 the Trustees of the Tayleur Fund per F Stokes, subscribed to the fund for the mother of Matthew Fegan drowned at Eden Quay in attempting to rescue two sailors who had fallen from a gangplank. Fegan was described by the gateman of Custom House Dock and as having saved, in separate incidents, J Nash, T Doolan, M Woolsey, three children and Mr Coleman. This donation underlines the Fund policy of not awarding posthumous medals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tayleur rescue work<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\"Storm

Storm in Kingstown Harbour<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Both Sir Ralph Cusack the steward of Lord Talbot and Mr walsh Lloyds Agent in Dublin were prominent in efforts to rescue and look after survivors of the wreck of the Tayleur on 30-1-1854. Mr walsh was awarded his medal for the Industry rescue at Kingstown and it is reported that Sir Ralph had a medal in his possession or in an other account was awarded a medal possibly for his efforts in connection with the Tayleur. An obituary in the Irish Times on 4 March 1910 described the barrister Sir Ralph Cusack as a member of the Tayleur Medal Fund Board and a medal holder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Winding up the fund<\/span><\/h2>\n

On 31 December 1895 following the Palme Lifeboat Disaster a fund of \u00a32000 was collected. The question of adding to the fund arose and Frederick Stokes suggested that if the trustees were approached that he was sure the balance of the fund would be applied. But there was discussion that the Palme fund was sufficient. It is not clear why the fund trustees decided to cease their work and hand over the fund. This is especially curious given that they had several unawarded medals in stock. The death of Sir Ralph Cusack in 1911 may have had some impact on the committee\u2019s work and medals had not been awarded since 1875 as far as is known. On 7 March 1912 the committee of the Tayleur fund communicated with the RNLI offering the residue of the fund to provide a motor for the Kingstown lifeboat. The RNLI deputy chief inspector attended a meeting of the Tayleur fund. Disposal was agreed by the trustees on 13 June1912 and the residual amount was \u00a31233. After discussions about whether a new boat would be more appropriate the Tayleur fund was wound up in September 1913. The assets were \u00a3400 of 4.5% stock, \u00a3250 of 3.5% stock, and \u00a3700 cash. A delay ensued while the technical merits were debated. On 4 March 1920 the Times London reported that the \u201cDunleary\u201d lifeboat was endowed by the civil service lifeboat fund and a considerable contribution from Tayleur fund. One of the conditions of the transfer was that a memorial plate to commemorate the winding up of the Tayleur fund should be fixed in a suitable position. A plaque was to be erected on the lifeboat or in the lifeboat house at Dun Laoghaire but as far as can be ascertained this promise was not honoured as no evidence of this plaque has been found though the old lifeboat house still exists.<\/span><\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/h3>\n