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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: trish58 on Friday 24 August 18 02:48 BST (UK)
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My Great Uncle was reported to have received The Royal Humane Society award for diving into the River Dee appears he dived in 3 times, he was living in Aberdeen at the time and this would have been 1886-1894.
Name John Alexander Rae, this is all I know.
Thank you
Trish.
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It’s reported in several Dundee papers
20 November 1891 - Dundee Evening Telegraph. (This one has a portrait)
12 November 1891 - Dundee Courier - Dundee, Angus, Scotland
They have his name as James
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Thank you for the info. I don't have access to newspapers.
Many thanks.
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I've pm'd you
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I do like the facts that.
1. He wasn't in Aberdeen but Brechin (and had been for 4 years)
2. It was the river South Esk, not the River Dee
3. His name was James not John.
Perfect example of family stories having an element of truth but not the whole truth.
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Thank you so much for the info.
I am also doubting that this is him as he was always know as John Alexander, his occupation was a "Sawyer" Journeyman even at the time of his death in 1935 in Buckingham England, plus the family was Scottish / Irish and the family spent a lot of time in Ireland.
This only came to me yesterday and not sure now how to tell the lady that her Grandfather was not the one who received the award. Maybe I should keep quite.
Many thanks again.
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Don’t tell her yet, I might have found something else. It’s more obscure
But there is a mention of a “young lad Rae” in an article about the “Bon accord swimming club and humane society”. In February 1891 so before the August incident. I’ll keep looking
Aberdeen Journal, Saturday February 28th
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Will wait a while, thanks
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Found it! Under Alexander Rae. Includes the diving three times, and is in the Dee
What are the odds of there being two humane society awards to men of same surname so close together!
4 June 1890 - Aberdeen Press and JournaL
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Thank you so much for your help, I am going to contact the 2nd Cousin and ask her if she would kindly send me a photo of the award, I have just sent her heaps of BMD records so will keep my fingers crossed.
Many thanks again.
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I do like the facts that.
1. He wasn't in Aberdeen but Brechin (and had been for 4 years)
2. It was the river South Esk, not the River Dee
3. His name was James not John.
Perfect example of family stories having an element of truth but not the whole truth.
And some say that the bible is fact!!
Malky
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https://www.royalhumanesociety.org.uk/the-societys-archive/
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Thank you Graham Simons.