*The Early Naval Lifesaving Group of 4 awarded to Admiral Arthur Cumming K.C.B., Royal Navy, who as a Mate aboard H.M.S. Cyclops during the naval operations at Syria in 1840 was mentioned in despatches and promoted for gallantry during the storming of Sidon. During this action he volunteered to lead a force of Turkish soldiers across the exposed citadel causeway, where despite heavy casualties they eventually took the barrack buildings. During the Crimean War he served as Captain of H.M.S. Gorgon, and then during the Baltic campaign as Captain of H.M.S. Conflict, where he took part in the capture of Libau. Reaching the rank of Admiral after a long and eventful career, he retired in 1882, being appointed K.B. in 1887, comprising: Naval General Service, 1793-1840, single clasp, Syria (Arthur Cumming, Mate.); Baltic, 1854, unnamed as issued; Royal Humane Society, small type, for a successful rescue, in silver (Mr. Arthur Cumming, Mate, R.N., H.M.S. Hastings, 1838 DUPLICATE), reportedly exchanged in place of an earlier large sized medal, in order to mount with his group; St Jean D’Acre, in silver, with custom suspension fittings (Arthur Cumming. Lieut. R.N. H.M.S. Cyclops.); Group mounted for display, with matching miniatures beside (including a miniature K.C.B.), light contact marks, generally very fine or better (9). M.i.D.: London Gazette: 17 November 1840 – for ‘act of bravery’. Admiral Arthur Cumming K.C.B. (1817-1893) was born on 6 May 1817, in Nancy, France, the son of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry John Cumming K.C.H., of the 12th Lancers. He was educated at the Royal Naval College in Portsmouth and joined the Royal Navy on 8 August 1832, and initially served as a Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Rover on the Mediterranean and North America stations. He passed his officer’s examinations and was promoted to Mate on 4 April 1837, going aboard the steam vessel H.M.S. Cyclops under the command of Captain Horatio Austin. It was whilst aboard this vessel that he saved the life of a fellow crewmember who had fallen overboard and was drowning in Portsmouth Harbour on 24 September 1838, for which he received the Royal Humane Society Medal in silver. Two years later, when serving during the Syria campaign, he was given a mention in despatches and subsequently promoted for his gallantry shown during the storming of the citadel at Sidon, on 26 September 1840. While the London Gazette entries about Cumming are brief, contemporary newspaper record his bravery as follows: ‘The fort…is connected with the barrack by a narrow causeway or bridge, which was fully exposed to the fire of the enemy. It was a trying service for any body of men to cross it. One of the mates of the Cyclops, Mr Cumming, volunteered to lead the Turks, and he succeeded in inspiring them with a portion of his own intrepid spirit. They undauntedly followed their young and dashing leader – some of them over the bodies of their fallen comrades. The whole force, directed by Captain Austin, Colonel Laue, and Walker Bey, moved quickly after them…and after a brief, but severe struggle, the barrack was evacuated, the main body of Egyptians retreating up a narrow arched street.’ The Morning Chronicle, 6 November 1840, © British Library Board After this, he served as Additional Lieutenant aboard the Princess Charlotte and then the Britannia, followed by a position as Lieutenant aboard the Benbow. On 5 November 1842 he transferred as Lieutenant to serve aboard H.M.S. Frolic on the South American coast, and while cruising in the Frolic’s pinnace on 6 September he fell in with and engaged the ‘piratical’ slave ship Vicedora. As the larger Brigantine attempted to run down the smaller vessel, Cumming shot the enemy captain, got alongside and boarded the slave ship with 6 other men and a marine – managing to subdue and drive below a larger crew of 27 men. He then returned the ship, crew and slaves to Rio de Janeiro, where he was disappointed not to receive a further promotion for this daring capture. He was, however, soon after invalided for a time, having contracted smallpox from the crew. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 9 November 1846, and served aboard the Rattler between 1849 and 1851 (capturing another slave ship). He saw active service during the Baltic campaign aboard the frigate H.M.S. Gorgon, being promoted to post-captain. He was then transferred to H.M.S. Conflict where, in company with H.M.S. Amphion he was able to capture the Baltic port of Libau, and its 8 merchant ships, without firing a shot. Towards the end of the war he was made Captain of the ironclad floating battery Glatton on 22 May 1855, but arrived in the Black Sea too late to see action. He was appointed Captain of the frigate H.M.S. Emerald on 14 May 1859, aboard which ship he would remain until November 1863. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath on 13 May 1867, undertaking numerous positions until promoted to Rear-Admiral on 27 February 1870, while serving aboard H.M.S. Duke of Wellington. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies between 1872 and 1875, whereupon he was made Rear-Admiral on 27 February 1870. He was appointed K.C.B. on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee on 21 June 1887, and he died in London on 17 February 1893.
Estimate: £1500-£2000