Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., silver (Hugh Penny, “Trentwood” 16th March 1929) very fine £320-360

S.G.M. London Gazette 24 October 1929.

The S.S. Trentwood of Middlesborough was steaming from Ghent to Middlesborough. While off Whitby on the 16th of March 1929, an explosion occurred in the boiler; the engine-room quickly filled with steam. As the boiler was fast losing water, the Second Engineer, R. Buckley, who was on watch at the time, made his way to the rear of the engines to start the feed-tank pump, which is situated close to the boiler. While he was thus engaged, a more violent explosion occurred, which rendered him unconscious. After giving orders for the fires to be withdrawn the Chief Engineer went from the stokehold to the engine-room to find Buckley but was unsuccessful. He then opened the engines in order to take the steam off the boiler. The Master also then tried to enter the engine-room but was prevented by escaping steam. He returned to the bridge in order to haul the ship in as close as possible to land. He asked Penny to see if he could help in the engine-room. Penny went down to the stokehold and finally reached the engine-room through the engine-room grating. Getting on to the engine platform by a ladder, he found Buckley unconscious. With great difficulty he carried him through the engine-room and then on to the deck. After the application of artificial respiration, Buckley recovered and later returned to duty in the engine-room.

Second Officer Penny’s name was inscribed on the Carnegie Heroes Fund Trust’s Roll of Heroes and he was granted a reward to the value of £20.