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Family Group: An Albert Medal Second Class for Land awarded to Miss Hannah Rosbotham, for gallantry following the destruction of the Belfry at the Sutton National Schools, St. Helens, Lancashire, that fell into the Infants’ Schoolroom during a violent gale on 14 October 1881- she remained at her post until all 200 children had been safely evacuated, including rescuing one infant who had been completely buried under the falling débris. Only 16 Ladies received the Albert Medal - Miss Rosbotham was not only the first woman to receive the Albert Medal, but the first woman to ever receive a gallantry medal from the Crown and the only woman to have the Decoration conferred upon her by Queen Victoria Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, bronze and enamel, reverse officially engraved ‘Presented in the name of Her Majesty to Hannah Rosbotham for exhibition of great Gallantry on the destruction of the belfry of the Sutton National Schools 14th. October 1881’, reverse of the crown with maker’s cartouché Phillips, Cockspur St., and officially numbered ‘47’, with original narrow riband, in embossed leather case of issue; together with a presentation silver half-hunter ladies’ pocket watch, the backplate engraved ‘To Miss Hannah Rosbotham from the Managers of the Sutton National Schools and other residents to express their sense of her courageous behaviour in rescuing the school children during the gale of October 14th. 1881 that destroyed the roof of the school and for which act of bravery she has been awarded the Albert Medal by Her Majesty. January 11th. 1882’, very fine A Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society and Port Sunlight Order of Conspicuous Merit pair awarded to Mr. J. J. Rosbotham, for saving life from drowning at St. Helen’s Reservoir, Lancashire, on 13 March 1886, and again at Leasowe, Cheshire, on 17 August 1911 Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society Marine Medal, 3rd type, silver (John J. Rosbotham, for rescuing a young man who had fallen through the ice at St. Helen’s Reservoir. Mch 13. 1886) with top silver riband buckle, in fitted case of issue; Port Sunlight Order of Conspicuous Merit Cross, gold, the reverse engraved ‘Presented to Mr. John J. Rosbotham for Bravery in rescuing a lady from drowning at Leasowe Aug. 17. 1911’, in fitted case of issue, scratch to obverse field on first, minor edge bruising, good very fine (4) £6000-8000 Footnote A.M. London Gazette 16 December 1881: ‘During a violent gale of wind on the 14th of October last, the stone belfry of the Sutton National Schools was blown down, and fell through the roof into the Infants’ School-room (where nearly two hundred children were assembled), causing the death of one, and injuring many others, and filling the room and its gallery with stones, slates, and timber. Whilst others fled for safety, Miss Rosbotham, an Assistant Schoolmistress, (who at the time of the accident was teaching elsewhere) deliberately entered among the falling mass and cloud of dust; and, while fully conscious of the extreme danger to which she was exposed, remained on the spot until every child had been placed in safety. At the imminent risk of her own life, Miss Rosbotham removed four infants who were partially covered with the débris, and rescued therefrom a little girl who was completely buried, and who must inevitably have been suffocated had not such gallantry been displayed.’ Hannah Rosbotham was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, in 1859, one of eight children of Peter and Elizabeth Rosbotham, and was educated at the Sutton National Schools, St. Helens. ‘At the age of twenty she was appointed to be assistant mistress in the school where she herself had been educated. A slightly-built, delicate-looking girl, with quiet unassuming manners and a singularly guileless expression of countenance, she appeared to be just one of those women who go quietly through the world, doing the duty that lies nearest, and abstaining from asserting themselves in any way. No o