Obverse: A man carrying a rescued man from a wreck (centre) two men bending over a prostrate figure (right) another in a rowing boat, a distant wreck (left). Reverse: Inscription within an oak garland tied with a bow. Incuse: 'WILLIAM SKIPPER'. Incuse: '19 November 1887'. Legend: 'ZUID HOLLANSCHE MAATSCHAPPIJ TOT REDDING VAN SCHIPBREUKELINGEN TE ROTTERDAM'. Ribbon: watered silk orange.

On this date the 'W.A. Scholten' of Rotterdam, bound for New York carrying general cargo and passengers, was run down in fog off Dover by the 'Rosa Mary' of Hartlepool. Approximately 130 passengers and crew drowned and 78 were rescued. Most were picked up by the 'Ebro' of Sunderland, about ten by the coastguard and seven by a local boatman. 'Leetamore' rescued the engineer.

William Skipper (1843-1904) received a gold medal from South Holland Society for Saving Life from Shipwreck for his part in rescuing survivors from the 'W. A. Scholten' of Rotterdam, sunk in colllision with the 'Rosa Mary' of Hartlepool on 19 November 1887. Skipper was likely to have been the master or a crew member of the 'Ebro' 1879, Sunderland. Born in 1843 at Brancaster, Norfolk, he received a Master's Certificate issued in Sunderland in 1870 where he died in 1904.