Description
The rare and unusual rescue medal of Coastguard Commander Boatman John Bridgeman for the rescue of Joseph F. Thomas, of Smirk Street, Walworth at Beachy Head, Sussex in 1906.
John Edward Bridgeman
Bluejacket Badge Medal
ROYAL NAVY SERVICE RECORD ADM 188/130. Service Number: 107634. Date of Birth: 9th September 1863. Place of Birth: Combs, Suffolk. Discharged: 28th June 1919 Cause of discharge: Retired pensioned. His first appointment began 7th January 1879 to 18th January 1879 on H.M.S. Impregnable. Rank Boy 2nd Class. His Coastguard career began, after 11 years in the Royal Navy as follows:
Invincible (Milford) Boatman 24th May 1890 8th May 1892, Invincible (Milford) Commissioned Boatman 9th May 1892 3rd September 1895, Newhaven (East Cowes) Commissioned Boatman 4th September 1895 7th May 1897, Newhaven (Seaview) Commissioned Boatman 8th May 1897 15th June 1903, Newhaven (Seaview) Chief Boatman 16th June 1903 28th June 1903.
Southern Beachy Head Chief Boatman 29th June 1903 3rd January 1907 – Awarded the Bluejacket Badge medal.
Southern Dungeness Chief Boatman 4th January 1907 16th December 1907, Southern Dungeness 17th December 1907 3rd March 1908, Southern St Albans Head 4th March 1908 31st March 1910, Southern St Albans Head Chief Petty Officer (Coastguard) 1st April 1910 28th March 1911, Southern St Albans Head Chief Officer 29th March 1911 1st August 1911, Southern Bournemouth Chief Officer 2nd August 1911 30th September 1916, President IV Bournemouth Chief Officer 1st October 1916 28th June 1919.
As reported in nationwide newspapers the following reports are examples of the story of the rescue.
Manchester Times – Saturday 18 August 1906
CLIFF MYSTERY. REMARKABLE ESCAPE. An exciting rescue of a visitor from the cliff at Beachy Head was reported on Monday. Peering over Beachy Head on Saturday, a lady was greatly surprised to see a man on a ledge of the cliff, about 150 feet from the summit. The spot was quite inaccessible for any climber, so she hastily fetched the coastguards. Two of them, named Bridgman and Spilman, were lowered over the cliff, and found the man lying down with his head on his hand. “What are you doing here?’ asked Bridgman. “T don’t know. I’ve been here for two or three days,” replied the other, feebly. With the greatest care Bridgman picked him up, and they were hauled together to the top by many willing helpers. The man proved to be Joseph F. Thomas, of Smirk-street, Walworth, a ticket inspector on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, who was to be married on Sunday next. He left home on Friday evening. He had complained of headache lately as the result of working so much in the sun. He must have fallen the full one hundred and fifty feet direct, and he no doubt owes his life to the fact that the ledge is covered with a thick, grassy substance, and is flanked by bushes. The coastguards regard the man’s escape as wonderful.
Morning Leader – Monday 13 August 1906 covered the rescue as follows:
BEACHY HEAD MYSTERY. COASTGUARDS RESCUE VISITOR WITH ROPES. Peering over Beachy Head on Saturday a lady was greatly surprised to see a man crawl from some bushes on a ledge 150 ft. from the top of the cliff. The spot was quite inaccessible for any climber, so she hastily fetched the coastguards. Two of them, named Bridgman and Spilman, were lowered over the cliff, and found the man lying down with his head on his hand. ~ “What are you doing here?” asked Bridgeman. – _ “I don’t know. I’ve been here for two or three days,” replied the other, feebly.
Hauled Up. With the greatest care Bridgman picked him up, and they were hauled together to the top by many willing helpers.
The man proved to be Joseph F. Thomas, of Smirk St. Walworth. He was able to walk to the coastguard station, and after being washed he was conveyed on a stretcher to the Princess Alice Hospital, He was in a very exhausted condition, and was badly bruised about the body, but no bones were broken. In addition to the scratches and bruises Thomas’s right eye was very much discoloured, but this did not appear to have ‘been caused recently. When first brought to the top of the cliff Thomas said he fell over on Tuesday. but when at the coastguard station he said he left London on Thursday, and “ went ™ over in the evening. Neither statement., however, was correct, for he was at home on Friday.
His fellow Coastguard, Frederick William Spilman also made his career the Royal Navy and Coast Guard. Born in Southampton in 1866 he joined as a Boy in 1881, His final posting was in Stornaway when he was Discharged Dead 8th November 1916.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Royal Navy, H.M. Coast Guards.
Date of Death – Died 08 November 1918 – Age 52 years old. Buried or commemorated at – SANDWICK CEMETERY, ROSS AND CROMARTY. Husband of Emma Jane Spilman, of 72, Arthur Rd., Shirley, Southampton. Personal Inscription – UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
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