Royal Humane Society Medal 1869

Obverse: A nude boy with short cloak flying out from his shoulder, blowing on a torch held in his right hand. Legend: 'LATEAT SCINTILLVLA FORSAN'. Exergue: 'SOC . LOND . IN . RESVSCITAT . INTERMORTVORVM INSTIT . MDCCLXXIV'. Reverse: Within an oak wreath tied with ribbon, name of recipient and inscription. Inscription:'VIT . PERIC . EXPOS . D . D . SOC . REG . HVM'. [5 straight lines]. Inscription on edge: 'LIEUT. WALTER HAILSTONE R.N. 28 JUNE 1881'. [awarded for an unsuccessful attempt at saving life]. Suspended by a cusped bar from a dark blue ribbon.

Walter Hailstone (1848-1913) had a career which was marred by a couple of early misdemeanours and his senior officer reported him as having 'a very slow & unenergetic manner which appears to be natural to him but materially affects his efficiency as an executive officer'. He overcame these setbacks and by 1890 was described as a 'most painstaking and hardworking officer'. He entered the Navy as a 13 year old Naval Cadet in 1862. A year later he was appointed Midshipman and then on 4th May 1872 was granted a commission as Lieutenant. He finally retired in the rank of Commander in 1893 and lived in Cheltenham until his death on 23 May 1913. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society bronze medal for jumping overboard at sea, to rescue two seamen in 1881 while serving in HMS 'Agincourt'.The clasp to Walter Hailstone's Egypt medal was awarded for the bombardment of Alexandria on 11th July 1882, by ships under the command of Admiral Seymour.