Carnegie Hero Fund Medallion (Duncan Campbell, Strevenish, Islay, 21st October 1911) 90mm., bronze, good very fine £700-800

‘Duncan Campbell, 30 years of age, farmer, Strevenish Farm, Port Ellen, Islay, on 21st October 1911, rescued four seamen from the steamship Ena of Kragero, wrecked on the Island of Islay (Case 872). It was agreed to recommend that he be awarded a bronze medallion and the sum of £20’.

‘... On 20th October, 1911, the steamship Ena of Kragero ran on the rocks near the shore of the Mull of Oa, Parish of Kildalton, Islay, and latterly became a total wreck. The weather at the time was calm, but in the early morning of the 21st a strong gale rose and the ship was likely to break up. The crew of 18 men and one lady passenger had remained on board, but as the storm rose they took to the boats. The last boat, however, was driven by the waves from the ship’s side, leaving four men, Gerard Reickett, first mate, Ricord Hansen, chief engineer, and two others on board. The news was brought at daybreak to Campbell by some of the shipwrecked sailors who had managed to reach shore. He at once went to the scene of the wreck. The vessel was lying close in-shore, the bow some 40 to 45 yards from the land, which all along the coast is exceedingly rocky, and midway between there rose a huge rock considerably above high water mark, but which at the time was now and then swept by immense waves. The bottom of the ‘narrow’ between this rock and the shore consisted of large boulders, and the sea was rolling through this at a great rate. After four unsuccessful attempts and by carefully avoiding being washed away by the waves, Campbell managed to rush through the water to the rock, to which, by means of a rope and an improvised sling, he ultimately managed to transfer the shipwrecked men. Before this was done the tide had risen considerably, so that it was now impossible to rush across the narrow channel about 20 yards wide from the rock to the shore; while to swim, even if Campbell had been able to do so, as he is not, was equally impossible. Fortunately, by this time more people had come down to the beach, and ultimately communication was established between the rock and the shore by means of a rope. By lowering themselves into the water and clinging to this, and proceeding hand over hand, they all ultimately reached dry land. So frightful and terrifying was the passage, however, that not one of the foreign sailors would venture through until Campbell had shown them that it was possible to lower himself into the raging waters and reach the shore in safety. The last man, indeed, was washed off the rope near the shore, but was caught by several onlookers before he was swept back into the sea. Witnesses are all of the opinion that Campbell ran great risk of losing his life not only when passing between the rock and the shore, but also when he was upon the wave-swept rock, as he cannot swim. ...’ (Chief Constable of Argyleshire’s report of 25 November refers). With some copied research.