Throughout the RNLI's history the Annual Presentation of Awards has always made national news. Many supporters would have heard of a Medal for Gallantry or a Badge for voluntary work but Barry Cox, RNLI honorary librarian, has been dipping deep into the archives to remind us of an award which has almost been lost in the mists of time - the 'RNLI Cross'...

Up until the turn of the 20th century, the RNLI had recognised help given by supporters with various presentation items, including binoculars, telescopes and barometers.

At a committee meeting on 16 April 1901 Chairman Sir Edward Birkbeck proposed that 'a Decoration be established by the Institution, like the specimen submitted and designed by the Secretary (Charles Dibdin), for presentation to Ladies and others who had rendered valuable service to the Institution other than the saving of life'. It was then agreed that the decoration be awarded to ten ladies 'who had done good work for the Institution during the last 5 years and upwards as Branch Honorary Secretaries'.

This list included nine ladies who had served in that capacity, and one Svho had been very active in promoting by personal work the Ladies'Auxiliaries at Manchester'.

The criteria for this new decoration had evidently not been properly considered because, at the next meeting on 7 May, new guidelines were agreed. Thirty-six Honorary Secretaries (all men) 'of 20 years and upwards good service' were honoured. In one case, the recipient's daughter was authorised to wear the award as she had, for many years, helped her father.

After the first numerous awards in 1901, only 18 further awards were made up to early 1909. On 9 February that year, a special subcommittee considered the decoration. At the first and only meeting, held on 19 May, it was decided that a decoration be established in two classes, persons of both sexes being eligible.

The Patron, President, Chairman and Deputy Chairman were to receive and hold, ex officio, the Decoration of the First Class.

Initial designs of the new decoration were submitted to King Edward VII in August, but he indicated that 'the proposed decoration was too much like an order and that he did not therefore approve it'. He indicated that he would not at all object to a 'Badge'.

A new design was produced by Messrs Garrard & Co Ltd in May 1910. King Edward VII had died on the 6 May, but the Finance and Correspondence Sub-Committee on the 10 May 'recommended that the design be submitted to His Majesty' (King George V).

Approval was reported on 11 August and 20 gold and 50 silver badges were ordered.

Specimen decorations were submitted, but they were considered unsatisfactory, and fresh design was sought.

A new design was prepared by Mr Burke of the College of Heralds. At the Committee of Management meeting held on 1 August 1912, the final resolution concerning the new RNLI Decoration was passed: To provide a means of conferring honorary reward in recognition of distinguished, exceptional and long and faithful services other than those for which the Medals of the Institution are given, the Committee of Management, with gracious permission of His Majesty the King, Patron of the Institution, have instituted a Decoration in two classes.

Persons of both sexes are eligible for the Decoration.

In the First Class the Decoration is a wavy cross in dark blue enamel, mounted in gold with the letter RNLI in gold between the arms, interlaced with a rope, and suspended by a gold ring from a blue watered silk ribbon of the same shade as the enamel.

In the Second Class the Decoration of the same design, but in silver mounting instead of gold.' Early in 1913, the first five First Class awards were made, to the ex officio holders - Patrons, King George V and Queen Mary; the President, the 7th Duke of Northumberland; Chairman, the Earl Waldegrave; and Deputy Chairman, Sir John Cameron Lamb. On 13 February, four further First Class awards were voted to Sir Fitzroy Clayton, former Chairman; George F Shee, Secretary; Commander Thomas Holmes, Chief Inspector of Lifeboats and Commander St Vincent Nepean, former Chief Inspector of Lifeboats. One more First Class award was made on 13 March to Colonel T H Cornish on his retirement after 27 years as Honorary Secretary at Penzance.

No further awards were made as a note in the records states: 'Further issues not approved by the King'. At the Committee of Management meeting of 14 May 1914, a letter was read from Colonel Sir Douglas Dawson stating that *when the King approved the design for the Badge, His Majesty was under the impression that he was only carrying out what King Edward had already sanctioned but, in the absence of documentary evidence to the effect, the King having a strong personal objection to the badge being worn, is opposed to it'. Those already in possession of the badge were allowed to wear it but, as from 24 April 1914, no further such awards were allowed.

Thus, in all, only ten awards of the 'RNLI Cross' were voted - all First Class. Although the whereabouts of one of these is known for certain, only an example of the Second Class cross is in the archives in Poole.

It is sad that such a well-designed and attractive award did not have a longer life.

Also, unfortunately, there is now no record of the design of the 1901 decoration..