I have recently purchased this mans medals, He received the Egypt medal 1882, Khedives Star, and The royal Humane Life Saving medal with Bar. and I am now researching him. Rgds, Freddy Commander Charles Sedgfield Donner, Royal Navy, Principal Transport Officer in Egypt *A Rare Egypt Campaign & Royal Humane Society Medal & Bar Group of 3 awarded to Commander Charles Sedgfield Donner, Royal Navy, Principal Transport Officer in Egypt between 1882-1884, who ‘jumped into the sea from four different ships to save the lives of ratings who had fallen overboard’, Comprising: Egypt 1882-89, no clasp (Comder. C. S. Donner, R.N. H.M.S. “Thalia”); Khedive’s Star, 1882-91, dated 1882; Royal Humane Society Medal, in silver, successful type, 38.5mm width (Lieut. Charles S. Donner, R.N. 25, June, 1867.), with additional ‘R.H.S.’ second award bar (C. S. Donner. 1878.) with silver top bar and reverse brooch pin, campaign pair swing-mounted on bar, in fitted leather and velvet-lined case, and RHS medal in original ‘Warrington’ case of issue, a few light marks in places, generally about extremely fine and a scarce combination of awards; offered with a glazed photographic portrait of the recipient wearing both his pair and RHS medal with bar, taken at Alexandria, Egypt, c.1882 (lot). Royal Humane Society Medal, awarded 8 January 1868 – ‘It was resolved unanimously that the noble courage and humanity displayed by Charles S Donner, Lieut. R.N., of HMS Surly, in having jumped overboard at Sea to the relief of George Rudland ordinary seaman who had fallen overboard and whose life with the assistance of Richard Pratt he saved, calls forth the admiration of this General Court, and justly entitles him to the Honorary Silver Medal of this Institution which is hereby awarded.’ Bar to Royal Humane Society Medal, awarded 8 July 1879 – ‘It was resolved unanimously that Lieut. Charles Sedgfield Donner, R.N. H.M.S. Euryalus, is justly entitled to the Honorary Silver Clasp of this Society which is hereby awarded him (he having already received the Silver Medal in 1868) for having on the 17th September 1878, jumped overboard through a port on the upper deck at Sea between Malta and Port Said, to the rescue of Mark Jewell, Ship’s Boy 1st Class, and whose life he saved.’ Charles Sedgfield Donner, son of Edward Sedgefield Donner of Scarborough, was educated at St Peter’s School, York. He entered the Royal Navy in 1861 coming aboard HMS Britannia, and become a Gunnery Officer. He was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving the life of a drowning Ordinary Seaman on 25 June 1867 as a Lieutenant aboard HMS Surly, and similarly again on 17 September 1878 whilst aboard HMS Euryalus. He was promoted to Commander with seniority of 30 June 1882, and was appointed Principal Transport Officer in Egypt in August of that year. He was commended for his work by Major General W. Earle for his significant role in supporting the Suakin Expedition. After a time as Commander of HMS Monarch, he transferred to HMS Thunderer in 1887, and was later asked by Rear-Admiral Robinson to be his Flag Captain aboard HMS Boadicea. It was aboard this ship that he died in Trincomalee from heat apoplexy in 1892. Offered with a useful biography and transcripts of some of Donner’s letters in an article by Lt. Cdr. F. D. Franks, R.N., who records that the recipient made life-saving attempts on four separate occasions.
(requested on 29 06 2016)

Family history - my great great uncle.
(requested on 01 07 2016)