A Lloyd’s Medal for saving life at sea group of four awarded to Mr. G. L. Dentant, Belgian Mercantile Marine, Third Officer of the Belgian Steamer Kasbek, for saving the lives of the crew of the British Steamer Clan Macnab when the latter was torpedoed off Land’s End on 4 August 1918

Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold II, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with silver palm on riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Commemorative War Medal 1914-18, bronze; Belgium, Kingdom, Allied Victory Medal 1914-19, bronze; Lloyd’s Medal for Saving Life at Sea, 2nd small type, silver (3rd. Officer Gerard L. Dentant . S.S. “Kasbek”. 4th. August 1918.) mounted court style for display, extremely fine (4) £400-500

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2005.

Gerard L. Dentant, served as 3rd Officer of the Belgian steamer the S.S. Kasbek, and was awarded the Lloyd’s Medal for saving life at sea in silver, along with the Captain and 1st and 2nd Officers, for saving the lives of the crew of the S.S. Clan Macnab:

‘At daybreak on 4 August 1918 the Belgian S.S. Kasbek was proceeding in convoy with the British S.S. Clan Macnab from Plymouth to Glasgow when the latter was torpedoed by a German submarine when rounding Land’s End. Two torpedoes hit her in close succession - the first exploded in no. 2 hold and the second in no. 3 hold, carrying away the stokehold bulkhead, and causing a tremendous rush of water which sank the Clan Macnab in two and a half minutes. Captain Smith, six other officers, and 16 members of the crew lost their lives.
Contrary to usual procedures, the Kasbek immediately turned towards the wreckage and, in spite of the risk of being torpedoed herself, put out two life-boats. She then circled round at full speed for about an hour while the boats picked up the survivors of the Clan Macnab. The 1st Officer, Jerome Geryl, the 3rd Officer, Gerard Dentant, and the Kasbek’s Boatswain manned one boat and picked up three boats full of men whom they transferred to the destroyer H.M.S. Owl, whilst the second boat, manned by the 2nd Officer, Pierre Barbé, and two seamen, picked up nine men and took them on board the Kasbek. She then proceeded to Newport, where she arrived the following morning.’

To recognise their gallant conduct, the owners of the Clan Macnab presented Captain Charles Sytor, the captain of the Kasbek, with £250 for himself and his crew, and he was also presented with a piece of silver plate by the Admiralty. Dentant was presented with his medal in January 1919.