The Royal Humane Society origins began during a meeting on 18 April 1774, when Dr. William Hawes and Dr. Thomas Cogan each asked sixteen friends to help them in founding an institution devoted to reviving those apparently dead from drowning. Many of the founders were said to have been physicians or surgeons practising between Westminster and London Bridges; another was the poet and dramatist Oliver Goldsmith.

The Lord Mayor of London became the first President and the actor David Garrick was an early and generous supporter. The Institution became a Society; in 1776 it became 'The Humane Society' and was granted the prefix 'Royal' in 1787. A pamphlet issued in 1774 showed that the Institution aimed not only at reviving those apparently drowned but also at "diffusing a general knowledge of the manner of treating persons in a similar state, from various other causes; such as strangulation by the cord, suffocation by noxious vapours, &c. &c." In this it followed work already begun on the continent, where similar societies had been established since 1767 in Amsterdam, Milan, Venice, Hamburg, Paris and (also in 1774) St Petersburg. The Society is a charity who's work is maintained and supported by voluntary means.

Awards may be granted to those who have put their own lives at risk to save or attempt to save someone else. The awards granted for these acts of bravery include bronze and silver medals and Testimonials on Vellum or Parchment.

In 1869 Queen Victoria gave permission for Army and Navy recipients to wear the Society's Silver or Bronze medals (or the ribbon) on the right breast in uniform (you will see examples of this on some of the photos below).

The Society may also give recognition to those who have contributed to the saving or attempted saving of life, though they may not have put their own life at risk. In these instances, a Certificate of Commendation may be granted.

Below is are details of those Worcestershire Regiment men who have received an award from the Royal Humane Society in date order:

Bronze Medal

Reverse of Bronze Medal

1855

Sergeant-Major Nicholas Chapman of the Worcestershire Militia

On the 20th May 1855, he jumped fully clothed into the canal lock in Worcester to rescue a female who had fallen in and was in difficulty.

Award: Bronze Medal (Case number 15676)

Interestingly, at the time, the Crimean War was in progress and the Militia were embodied in the city of Worcester. Chapman may have had acting or temporary rank, but the unit's Sergeant-Major from 1852-71 was John Beatty.

1862

Sergeant Edward Darke of the Worcestershire Militia

On the 29th June 1862, he plunged into the canal at Worcester and saved the life of a boy called Hyland, who had accidentally fallen in.

Award: Testimonial on Parchment

1862

Lance Corporal Stephen McGovern, 36th Regiment (later the 2nd Bn Worcestershire Regiment)

On the 28th August 1862, he plunged into the canal at Kilkenny, Ireland, and saved the life of a female who had attempted suicide.

Award: Testimonial on Parchment

1863

William Miles Prendergast

On the 15th July 1863, at Bognor, Sussex, assisted by Rowland Ticehurst, he rescued Reginald Bloxham a young boy aged 9, who had accidentally fallen into the sea.

Award (to each rescuer): Bronze Medal (Case number 17147)

William Prendergast was born in Bombay, India in 1843. He was commissioned in to the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment on the 24th November 1863, joining the regiment in Dublin, Ireland. As an Ensign he was with the Regiment during the Belfast Riots (1864). In 1865/66 he was in Malta and from 1867 to 1869 in Canada. In the winter of 1869 he proceeded with the Regiment to Jamaica. In December 1870 Lieutenant Prendergast was ordered from Jamaica to take up duties of Fort Major at Trinidad. Early in 1873 the Regiment received orders to return to Europe. On landing at Cork, Ireland there then followed a period at Templemore followed by Dublin in 1874. The next move was Jersey in 1875, returning to U.K. in July 1876 (adjacent photo of him was taken around 1876). The remainder of his army career was spent with the Regiment in India.

He was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 24th February 1877. He retired from the army on 28th April 1885 with the honorary rank of Major. He died in 1926, aged 81. In his spare time he enjoyed drawing in watercolour. He also produced some of the illustrations for Major H. Everard's History of the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment.

William Miles Prendergast

1866

Private John Draper, 36th Regiment (later the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment)

In May 1866, at Pembroke, he and Private James Coleman of the 58th Regiment swam out to sea to rescue John Grundy of the 47th Regiment and saved his life.

Award (to each rescuer): Bronze Medal (Case number 17749)

1884

Lieutenant John Hassard Stewart Gibb, 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

On the 27th June 1884, at great personal risk, he dived fully clothed out of a cabin window of a boat moored at Esneh, on the River Nile, to rescue Abdu Salam Benané, an interpreter with the Egyptian Army, who had got into difficulties when swimming. Lieutenant Gibb (then a Captain in the Egyptian Army) swam to where Benané had disappeared, dived, found him and took him to the bank. The river at that point was about 450 yards wide and 10 feet 45 inches deep.

Award: Bronze Medal (Case number 22465)

On his mother's side Lieutenant Gibb was connected with the family of Ensign Richard Vance, who, though mortally wounded, saved the Regimental Colour of the 29th at Albuhera, in 1811. He joined the 29th in 1879 and was promoted into the 36th in 1880. He saw considerable foreign service, was awarded the DSO in the Boer War and later commanded the 1st Battalion. In 1907 he retired as Brevet Colonel then rejoined in WW1, when the commanded a Base Depot in France. He died in 1933. His medals are in the Regimental Museum and photographs of him at RHQ show him wearing the Bronze Medal.

Note: Lieutenant Gibb later became Colonel and commanded the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from 1903 to 1907.

John Hassard Stewart Gibb

Captain Hugh de Berdt Hovell

1892

Captain Hugh de Berdt Hovell, 2nd Battalion.

On the 21st September 1892, Private H. Hibbert of the Lancashire Fusiliers and another soldier were in a boat on a lake at Poona, India, when it sank in 8 feet 10 inches of water. Captain Hovell was driving past, saw what had happened, partially stripped and, at great personal risk, swam out sixty yards. He managed to rescue Hibbert, but the other man was drowned.

Award: Bronze Medal (Case number 26212)

Captain Hovell was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion in 1884 and was a totally dedicated regimental officer. He was awarded the DSO in the Boer War and commanded the 1st Battalion from 1907-08, then the 2nd Battalion from 1908-11, when he retired.

When First World War broke out in 1914, Hovell was on the retired list, but he soon found himself in command of the 13th (Reserve) Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, formed at Plymouth in November 1914. However, he was found to be eccentric in his manner and methods in dealing with his men and was removed from command to the retired list.

During 1915 he sought to retrieve his reputation and enlisted as a private soldier, aged 52, under an assumed name ( Hugh Nash) and served wit hhis old 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. He joined the 2nd Battalion on the 18th May 1915, with a draft of men after the Battalion's night attack at Festubert, joining at the village of Les Harisoirs. He was posted to 'A' Company. He served with his ‘old comrades’ in France for five months until his health broke down.

He died in 1923, aged 60.

His RHS Bronze Medal is in the Worcestershire Regimental Museum. In the adjacent photo he is seen wearing the medal ribbon above the right breast pocket.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT LIEUT.-COLONEL HUGH DE BERDT HOVELL

1893

Edward Thomas John Kerans

On the 10th June 1893, at great personal risk, he attempted to rescue Martin McNamara from drowning in the Camcor River, Parsonstown, Ireland.

Award: Bronze Medal (Case number 26842)

At the time Edward Kerans was a student, age 13, he must be one of the youngest recipients of an award by the Society. After serving with the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War and as a Lieutenant in the 5th (Militia) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, he joined the 4th Worcestershire in 1903, being later seconded to serve in West Africa. During WW1 he was made Brevet Major for services in the field and when commanding the 4th Battalion was awarded the DSO. After the war he transferred to the Royal Tank Corps. He died in 1927, at the early age of 47. The adjacent photo shows him wearing the ribbon of the Bronze Medal. Early in 1988 his medals were shown at Spink's in an Exhibition of Life-Saving Awards (W. H. Fevyer Collection).

One of Lieut-Colonel Kerans's sons, Captain P. W. (Mickey) Kerans, served in the 1st Battalion and on 25th April 1941, died of wounds received in the Battle of Keren (a strange coincidence of names). Another son was Lieut. Commander John Kerans, who received the D.S.O. for effecting the escape of HMS Amethyst in the Yangtze Incident of 1949.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT LIEUT.-COLONEL EDWARD THOMAS JOHN KERANS

Edward Thomas John Kerans

1893

Frederick Herbert Garnett

On the 9th August 1893, at Woolacombe, a boy of 15, son of Mr M. Reynolds of Bristol, was carried 4500 yards out to sea while swimming from a bathing machine. The man in charge of the machine tried to reach the boy with a rope, but was thrown back by the waves and undercurrent. Mr Garnett left his wife and family on the beach, swam out to the exhausted boy and, with great difficulty, brought him ashore. Mr Reynolds said he had saved two lives, for had been about to try to save his son, but feared he would not have returned had he gone.

Award: Bronze Medal (Case number 26677)

Frederick Garnett served for many years in the London Scottish before joining the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, on the 2nd May 1900, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In 1908 this became the 8th Battalion (Territorial Force) Worcestershire Regiment and Captain Garnett served with it till 1910. When First World War broke out in 1914 he rejoined and volunteered for overseas' service, but instead he was appointed in 1915 to command the 3/8th (Reserve) Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, which he did till September 1916, after which he was Commandant of a POW camp.

His RHS Bronze Medal is in the Worcestershire Regimental Museum, donated by his daughter.

1944

Major G. G. H. Peace, MBE, 2nd Battalion

On the afternoon of 20th July 1944 several people were bathing at Mount Lavinia, Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), when two soldiers got into difficulties and could not return to shore. There was a strong wind, the sea was rough with surf and breakers and there was a treacherously strong undertow as the tide flowed back. Major Peace and Captain V. L. H. Wemyss, of the Indian Army, swam out some 400 - 500 yards and succeeded in bringing back the two men, who were both unconscious. Both rescuers were exhausted, but others were seen to be in difficulties, where- upon the two officers obtained a rope, swam out and effected their rescue, one of those saved by Major Peace being a WREN. The two gallant rescuers then retired for some well-earned refreshment, but, almost unbelievably, while they were away some other bathers got into difficulties off the same beach and drowned.

Award: Testimonial on Vellum to each officer

At the time of the rescue described above he was not serving with the Regiment, but with Force 136 the Far East Resistance Group.

Major G. G. H. Peace