The Mayflower Chalice: A Treasured Gift to the Museum
A silver-gilt chalice recently entrusted to the Museum preserves a remarkable connection between an act of extraordinary heroism and the story of Mayflower II. In 1953, American serviceman Reis Leming risked his life to rescue twenty-seven people during devastating floods in England, earning the George Medal for his bravery. Three years later, he christened Mayflower II in Brixham, England, where this very chalice was used in the ceremony—and then tossed into the sea. Miraculously recovered, it remained with Leming’s family for decades before returning to Mayflower II, where its story continues.
Some objects carry more than history—they carry stories of courage, chance, and connection.
A recently donated silver-gilt chalice now in the collection of the Museum is one such object, linking a remarkable act of heroism in postwar England with an iconic moment in the story of Mayflower II.
In 1953, American serviceman Reis Leming was stationed in England when devastating floods swept through the town of Hunstanton. As floodwaters rose, townspeople became stranded. Leming entered the dangerous waters and helped rescue twenty-seven people from the catastrophic floods, nearly losing his own life in the process.
For his extraordinary bravery, Leming was awarded the George Medal, Britain’s highest civilian decoration for gallantry. His courageous rescue made him a national hero—and would soon connect him to the story of Mayflower II.
Mayflower II under construction.
Beric Watson hands the chalice to Reis Leming after retrieving it from the harbor.
Three years later, in 1956, Leming was selected to christen Mayflower II in Brixham, England. The vessel, a full-scale reproduction of the ship that brought the English colonists to the Wampanoag homeland of Patuxet in 1620, was constructed in England and intended as a gift marking the friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States during World War II. On the day of the christening, Leming was presented with a silver-gilt cup filled with wine as part of the traditional ceremony. He then drank from the cup before tossing it into the water.
The chalice, however, did not remain on the bottom of Brixham Harbor forever. Mayflower II crew member Beric Watson dove in and recovered it. From that moment onward, the treasured object remained with Leming’s family.
On August 19, Leming’s eldest daughter, Debra, and his widow, Kathy, visited the Museum and generously entrusted the chalice to its care. The gift was presented aboard Mayflower II, bringing the story of this remarkable object full circle and creating a new chapter in its journey.
“We are deeply grateful to Debra, Kathy, and the entire Leming family for choosing to share this treasured piece of their family’s history with the Museum. Their generosity ensures that this remarkable object—and the stories of courage and friendship that it carries—will have a lasting place in the history of Mayflower II.” -Annie Greco, RPA, Director of Collections and Staff Archaeologist.
The chalice is more than a memento of a ship’s christening. It represents an iconic moment in the construction and launch of Mayflower II, while also preserving the extraordinary story of Reis Leming, who heroically saved twenty-seven lives while nearly losing his own.
It is a privilege for the Museum to become the steward of this meaningful piece of history. We are honored to preserve the chalice, grateful to the Leming family for entrusting it to our collection, and excited to share its story with our audiences for generations to come.