8 November 1852: Commander John R. Ward, R.N., rescues Ann Millanby from the Tees at Stockton
Lambton Young. 1872. Acts of Gallantry. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle. Get it:
.Excerpt
On the 8th of November 1852, a female, in a fit of derangement, threw herself from the quay into the river at Stockton-on-Tees, and would have been drowned but for the gallant and humane conduct of Commander J.R. Ward, R.N., who immediately threw off his great-coat, jumped into the water, a height of nine feet, and swam to the woman, who lay motionless, and drifting down with the tide with her face under water. Captain Ward succeeded in holding her head above the surface, and swimming towards the quay-wall obtained a footing, from whence they were rescued by a boat and conveyed to shore.
To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:
- ER: East Riding
- GM: Greater Manchester
- NR: North Riding
- NY: North Yorkshire
- SY: South Yorkshire
- WR: West Riding
- WY: West Yorkshire
Comment
Comment
But was “the quay” on the Yorkshire bank?! Probably not at that time.
The victim’s name is in the report on 13 January 1853 of the Royal Humane Society’s AGM. The Newcastle Courant says she was “in a state of intoxication” (Newcastle Courant 1852/11/19). George and Ann Millanby had had several children by the time she fell or jumped.
The famous-ish Royal Navy John Ward wasn’t yet a commander on this date.
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Original
J.R. Ward, Commander, R.N.
On the 8th of November 1852, a female, in a fit of derangement, threw herself from the quay into the river at Stockton-on-Tees, and would have been drowned but for the gallant and humane conduct of Commander J. R. Ward, R.N., who immediately threw off his great-coat, jumped into the water, a height of nine feet, and swam to the woman, who lay motionless, and drifting down with the tide with her face under water. Captain Ward succeeded in holding her head above the surface, and swimming towards the quay-wall obtained a footing, from whence they were rescued by a boat and conveyed to shore.
114 words.
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