Watch List notes:

Lifesaving: France, Société Générale Des Naufrages, gilt metal, 36mm width, with ring suspension (P.O. J. Dennett. Esq. Director General Britt. Sec.); engraved in upright capitals, very fine. John Dennett (1790-1852) of Newport, Isle of Wight, developed a shore-to-ship line-carrying rocket in 1826-7. Along with many other rockets at that time, used variously for military and naval use (most famously developed by William Congreve), or for whaling harpoons and life-saving, John Dennett's life-saving rocket also became popular at that time. Developed just four years later than Congreve's version, Dennett's rocket was demonstrated with much success before Army and Naval officers and the local Coast Guard. They were taken up and installed at 3 local Coast Guard stations, and soon after in 1832 they were instrumental in the rescue of nineteen men from the wreck of the merchant ship Bainbridge, which won Dennett a major government contract and an enhanced reputation ('Rockets and Missiles' by Van Riper, refers). Twenty years later, over 120 Coast Guard stations were equipped with Dennett's Rocket Apparatus, and many were sent abroad. The Numismatic Chronicle of 1841 records his award of the bronze medal of the Société Général Des Naufrages (known in Britain as 'The International Shipwreck Society'), for his role as Director General of the British Section. Whether this medal is this same bronze award, or a later award of a higher class (given that it is gilt) is as yet unconfirmed.