49:
184:
160:
41:
224:. The reverse shows a representation of two outstretched hands clasped above a raging sea with, on a surrounding band, the inscription "With courage nothing is impossible". Each medal is named to the recipient on the rim. The ribbon, suspended from a fixed straight suspender, is navy blue with narrow red and yellow edges, the colours of the RNLI.
102:
The very first medals were presented without any means of suspension, and then with a suspension loop for the plain dark blue ribbon. Since about 1852 the current suspension, in the form of two dolphins, has been used, and additional awards in the same class have been recognised by clasps attached to
235:
The RNLI have also established a number of awards that can be awarded to groups, including boat crews. Examples include the Ralph
Glister Award, inaugurated in 1968, awarded annually to a rescue boat crew who have given outstanding service; and the Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award, established
56:
The medal was established in 1824, the same year the RNLI was founded, to reward "humane and intrepid exertions in saving life from shipwrecks on our coasts, deemed sufficiently conspicuous to merit honourable distinction". The medal can be awarded for saving life at sea in gold, silver and, since
193:
Established in 2020, it is awarded for twenty years service with the RNLI, either as crew or as a support volunteer, and replaces the award of enamel lapel badges. Clasps, attached to the ribbon, are presented to mark each further period of ten years service. Clasps are inscribed
99:. The reverse of the Edward VII version shows a figure of Hope adjusting the lifejacket of a lifeboatman. The original reverse was restored for issues from 1911. The medal is engraved on the edge with the name of the recipient and the date the award was approved.
118:
The
Decoration of the Institution was awarded for conspicuous and special services to the RNLI, other than actual personal life-saving. Established in 1901, many awards were made for long and devoted service by Branch Honorary Secretaries and Ladies Auxiliaries.
110:, who achieved national fame in 1838 when she took part in her lighthouse keeper father's rescue of nine people whose ship had run aground off the coast of Northumberland coast. Her father, William Darling, also received the Silver Medal.
133:
The decoration of 1901 was a circular gilt medal 27mm in diameter and surmounted by a crown. It depicts a lifeboat going to the assistance of a sailing ship in distress, surrounded by a white enamel lifebelt bearing the words
20:(RNLI) since its creation in 1824. None are approved by the Crown, and are therefore unofficial awards. As such, they do not appear in the official British order of wear, although the principal lifesaving award, the
60:
While awards are now only made to lifeboat crew who risk their lives in rescue attempts, a number of nineteenth century medals were bestowed on others who saved life from the sea. These included
854:
232:
Notable service that does not justify the award of a medal can be rewarded with either the "Thanks of the
Institution Inscribed on Vellum" or a "Framed Letter of Appreciation".
993:
432:
1003:
275:, for both maritime safety and charitable services. In addition, serving RNLI lifeboat crew with five years operational service were eligible for the
884:
714:
122:
A new design was approved in 1912, to be awarded in both gold and silver. Awards were discontinued in May 1914 after objections were raised by King
550:
700:
67:
Apart from the metal of manufacture, the design of the three classes is the same. When established in 1824, the obverse bore the effigy of King
388:
138:. The reverse in plain. It is suspended from a plain dark blue ribbon, shaped in a bow when worn by women. The 1912 design, manufactured by
988:
257:
95:, shows three sailors in a lifeboat rescuing a fourth from the sea, below the inscription "Let not the deep swallow me up" taken from
288:
284:
106:
Up to 2004, a total of 150 gold, 1,563 silver and 791 bronze medals had been awarded. Recipients of the Silver Medal have included
280:
746:
Lifeboat
Gallantry, The Complete Record of Royal National Lifeboat Institution Gallantry Medals and how they were won. 1824-1996
244:
Members of the RNLI have also received a number of official awards, both for gallantry and distinguished service. These include
216:
The medal is circular and is struck in silver-plated base metal. The obverse shows the left-facing bust of the RNLI founder Sir
914:
823:
783:
276:
773:
1008:
17:
966:
936:
906:
876:
292:
753:
126:
that the decoration, a private award without Royal sanction, conflicted with the principle of the Crown as the
440:
249:
944:
412:
Examples of silver medals: "1847: Two sisters waded into a stormy sea to rescue 3 men from stranded smack.
87:
was refused, as the award is not granted by the Crown, and since then the profile of the RNLI founder Sir
268:
61:
209:, as appropriate. By September 2020, a total of 733 medals had been issued, including several with the
558:
692:
414:
40:
642:
316:
998:
386:
For example: In 1832 a silver medal was awarded to coastguard who saved crew of a wrecked sloop.
236:
in 1986, given annually for the most meritorious rescue carried out by an inshore lifeboat crew.
629:
260:
for their "gallantry and determination when ferrying troops from the beaches" during the 1940
960:
930:
900:
870:
667:
663:
617:
430:
1884: A woman on shore held onto a rope in a storm, allowing 15 crew of ship to get ashore.
48:
272:
8:
983:
833:
Myers, J.A.L. (June 2003). "Golden
Jubilee Medal – Royal National Lifeboat Institution".
793:
Farrell, Tony (December 2020). "Royal
National Lifeboat Institution Long Service Medal".
647:
622:
321:
261:
842:
819:
802:
779:
749:
296:
24:, can be worn on the right breast in uniform by members of the British armed forces.
159:
183:
64:
and those who affected a rescue by wading or swimming into the sea from the shore.
217:
139:
127:
88:
715:"Coronation Medal to go to Armed Forces and frontline emergency service workers"
71:, the first patron of the Institution. In 1862 this was changed to a profile of
580:
72:
977:
846:
806:
107:
253:
92:
245:
76:
142:
of London, was a stylised cross in dark blue enamel, with the letters
84:
68:
123:
96:
80:
256:; and Edward Parker and Howard Primrose Knight, both awarded the
252:
who both received, in addition to a number of RNLI awards, the
670:
lists, the RNLI received a total of 1 OBE; 6 MBEs and 2 BEMs.
358:
356:
499:
487:
598:
475:
353:
533:
531:
518:
516:
514:
465:
463:
461:
459:
855:"The Medal of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution"
528:
511:
456:
368:
341:
329:
146:
in the angles of the cross, interlaced with a rope.
673:
267:Members of the RNLI are regularly appointed to the
994:Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
737:
653:"Margate's Coxswain named as Edward Drake Palmer".
295:, on the same basis as members of government run
975:
16:A number of awards have been established by the
651:(Supplement). 24 September 1940. p. 5711.
433:"The woman who saved 15 sailors from drowning"
239:
943:
913:
883:
853:
604:
505:
493:
481:
362:
83:in 1911. In 1937 Royal permission to portray
835:Orders & Medals Research Society Journal
795:Orders & Medals Research Society Journal
325:(Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3351.
149:
1004:1824 establishments in the United Kingdom
641:
632:, later exchanged for the George Cross.)
616:
315:
91:has been used. The reverse, designed by
47:
39:
813:
792:
771:
762:
703:from the original on 24 September 2021.
537:
522:
469:
374:
347:
335:
302:
976:
581:"Open Charities - Ralph Glister Award"
832:
679:
44:RNLI Medal, version awarded 1862–1902
915:"Lifeboats and Lifeguards In Action"
763:Dorling, Captain H. Taprell (1956).
35:
989:Royal National Lifeboat Institution
885:"The Decoration of the Institution"
818:. Token Publishing Limited, Devon.
743:
222:Royal National Lifeboat Institution
136:Royal National Lifeboat Institution
18:Royal National Lifeboat Institution
13:
113:
14:
1020:
778:. Pen & Sword Books Limited.
767:. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London.
693:"Platinum Jubilee Medal revealed"
52:Ribbon: RNLI Medal and Decoration
748:. Spink & Son Ltd., London.
439:. 10 August 2018. Archived from
182:
158:
738:Sources and further information
707:
685:
656:
635:
610:
573:
543:
227:
406:
380:
309:
27:
1:
965:: CS1 maint: date and year (
935:: CS1 maint: date and year (
905:: CS1 maint: date and year (
875:: CS1 maint: date and year (
626:. 4 July 1924. p. 5157.
415:"Fishguard Lifeboat Station"
172:Lapel badge, awarded to 2020
7:
551:"RNLI: Ralph Glister Award"
269:Order of the British Empire
258:Distinguished Service Medal
240:Official awards to the RNLI
10:
1025:
1009:Awards established in 1824
271:, including awards of the
220:, surrounded by the words
814:Mussell, J., ed. (2014).
32:The RNLI awards include:
744:Cox, Barry, ed. (1998).
662:For example in the 2015
293:Coronation Medal of 2023
177:Medal with 60 year clasp
166:RNLI Long Service awards
775:British Military Medals
772:Duckers, Peter (2013).
150:RNLI Long Service Medal
925:(570). Winter 2004–05.
816:Medals Yearbook – 2015
630:Empire Gallantry Medal
277:Queen's Jubilee Medals
53:
45:
51:
43:
303:Notes and references
273:British Empire Medal
955:(593). Autumn 2010.
945:"Groombridge Award"
561:on 29 November 2014
62:coastguard officers
765:Ribbons and Medals
648:The London Gazette
628:(Both awarded the
623:The London Gazette
605:The Life-Boat 2010
506:The Life-Boat 1907
494:The Life-Boat 1860
482:The Life-Boat 1860
363:The Life-Boat 2004
322:The London Gazette
297:emergency services
262:Dunkirk evacuation
75:, with changes to
54:
46:
865:(36). April 1860.
825:978-1-908828-16-3
785:978-1-47382-983-1
443:on 10 August 2018
419:Historypoints.org
389:"Station history"
57:1917, in bronze.
36:Medal of the RNLI
22:Medal of the RNLI
1016:
970:
964:
956:
940:
934:
926:
910:
904:
896:
895:(224). May 1907.
880:
874:
866:
850:
829:
810:
789:
768:
759:
731:
730:
728:
726:
711:
705:
704:
689:
683:
677:
671:
668:Birthday Honours
660:
654:
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639:
633:
627:
614:
608:
602:
596:
595:
593:
591:
577:
571:
570:
568:
566:
557:. Archived from
547:
541:
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526:
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509:
503:
497:
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485:
479:
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467:
454:
452:
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384:
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372:
366:
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327:
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313:
186:
162:
140:Garrard & Co
1024:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1014:
1013:
974:
973:
958:
957:
928:
927:
898:
897:
868:
867:
826:
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734:
724:
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691:
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611:
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579:
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549:
548:
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446:
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431:
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395:
387:
385:
381:
373:
369:
361:
354:
346:
342:
334:
330:
314:
310:
305:
250:William Fleming
242:
230:
218:William Hillary
191:
190:
189:
188:
187:
179:
178:
173:
168:
163:
152:
128:fount of honour
116:
114:RNLI Decoration
89:William Hillary
38:
30:
12:
11:
5:
1022:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1001:
999:Courage awards
996:
991:
986:
972:
971:
941:
911:
881:
851:
830:
824:
811:
790:
784:
769:
760:
754:
739:
736:
733:
732:
706:
684:
672:
655:
634:
609:
597:
585:Open Charities
572:
542:
540:, p. 340.
527:
525:, p. 321.
510:
508:, p. 105.
498:
496:, p. 258.
486:
484:, p. 257.
474:
472:, p. 336.
455:
405:
379:
377:, p. 109.
367:
352:
350:, p. 130.
340:
328:
307:
306:
304:
301:
241:
238:
229:
226:
181:
180:
164:
157:
156:
155:
154:
153:
151:
148:
115:
112:
73:Queen Victoria
37:
34:
29:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1021:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
981:
979:
968:
962:
954:
950:
949:The Life-Boat
946:
942:
938:
932:
924:
920:
919:The Life-Boat
916:
912:
908:
902:
894:
890:
889:The Life-Boat
886:
882:
878:
872:
864:
860:
859:The Life-Boat
856:
852:
848:
844:
840:
836:
831:
827:
821:
817:
812:
808:
804:
800:
796:
791:
787:
781:
777:
776:
770:
766:
761:
757:
751:
747:
742:
741:
720:
716:
710:
702:
698:
694:
688:
682:, p. 89.
681:
676:
669:
665:
659:
650:
649:
644:
638:
631:
625:
624:
619:
613:
607:, p. 15.
606:
601:
586:
582:
576:
560:
556:
552:
546:
539:
534:
532:
524:
519:
517:
515:
507:
502:
495:
490:
483:
478:
471:
466:
464:
462:
460:
442:
438:
434:
420:
416:
409:
394:
390:
383:
376:
371:
365:, p. 13.
364:
359:
357:
349:
344:
338:, p. 14.
337:
332:
324:
323:
318:
312:
308:
300:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
278:
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208:
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197:
185:
176:
171:
167:
161:
147:
145:
141:
137:
131:
129:
125:
120:
111:
109:
108:Grace Darling
104:
100:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
65:
63:
58:
50:
42:
33:
25:
23:
19:
961:cite journal
952:
948:
931:cite journal
922:
918:
901:cite journal
892:
888:
871:cite journal
862:
858:
838:
834:
815:
798:
794:
774:
764:
745:
723:. Retrieved
721:. 5 May 2023
718:
709:
696:
687:
675:
658:
646:
637:
621:
612:
600:
588:. Retrieved
584:
575:
563:. Retrieved
559:the original
554:
545:
538:Farrell 2020
523:Mussell 2014
501:
489:
477:
470:Mussell 2014
445:. Retrieved
441:the original
436:
422:. Retrieved
418:
408:
396:. Retrieved
392:
382:
375:Duckers 2013
370:
348:Dorling 1956
343:
336:Dorling 1956
331:
320:
311:
266:
254:George Cross
243:
234:
231:
228:Other awards
221:
215:
210:
206:
202:
199:
195:
192:
174:
169:
165:
143:
135:
132:
121:
117:
105:
103:the ribbon.
101:
93:William Wyon
79:in 1902 and
66:
59:
55:
31:
21:
15:
643:"No. 34953"
618:"No. 32953"
590:22 December
565:22 December
317:"No. 56878"
246:Henry Blogg
28:RNLI awards
984:Lifesaving
978:Categories
755:0907605893
680:Myers 2003
424:29 January
398:29 January
291:, and the
77:Edward VII
847:1474-3353
807:1474-3353
447:10 August
85:George VI
69:George IV
701:Archived
664:New Year
437:BBC News
393:rnli.org
207:60 Years
124:George V
97:Psalm 69
81:George V
213:clasp.
211:60 Year
175:Right:
170:Above:
144:R N L I
845:
822:
805:
782:
752:
719:GOV.UK
697:Gov.uk
841:(2).
801:(2).
725:5 May
967:link
937:link
907:link
877:link
843:ISSN
820:ISBN
803:ISSN
780:ISBN
750:ISBN
727:2023
666:and
592:2020
567:2020
555:RNLI
449:2018
426:2021
400:2021
289:2022
287:and
285:2012
281:2002
248:and
279:of
205:or
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
