Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea group of nine awarded to Able Seaman Donald Macphee, Merchant Navy, late Private, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who was rewarded for his services after being torpedoed and sunk twice in one day

1914-15 Star (6/2229 Pte., N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (6/2229 Pte., N.Z.E.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals; New Zealand War Service Medal; Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea, silver (Able Seaman Donald Macphee, S.S. “Norman Monarch”, 19th May 1941) mounted for wear, some contact marks, very fine and better (9) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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Ref. Spink Exhibition 1985, No. 78.

King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct London Gazette 19 August 1941. - For services when his own and the rescuing ships were torpedoed and sunk.

Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea Lloyd’s List & Shipping Gazette 1 October 1941. ‘Donald Macphee, Able Seaman, Norman Monarch’. ‘The first ship was torpedoed and sank, but all the crew were picked up by the second ship. Afterwards this ship also was torpedoed and sank in three minutes, and the only boats that got away were two from the first ship. Of the ship’s own boats, one was wrecked by the explosion and the other capsized through the heavy list at once taken by the ship. Most of the crew went to the higher side of the deck when the ship was overturning, but Able Seaman Macphee and Boatswain Lawton remained on the lower side, and with great skill, in spite of the cant of the ship and hampering wreckage, cut adrift the starboard boat and got it over the side in less than the three minutes which the ship took to sink. Their prompt resource saved the lives of many who might otherwise have been lost’.

The British steamship Norman Monarch, 4,718 tons, was sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Barry with a cargo of wheat, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U.94, on 20 May 1941, some 200 miles S.S.E. of Cape Farewell. Fortunately, her crew of 40 plus eight gunners were all safely taken on board the Harpagus which was also en route to Barry. Sadly, later the same day, the 5,173 ton British cargo liner herself fell victim to the U.94. Sinking with frightening speed, 25 of her crew, four gunners and three passengers were lost, together with 26 men of the Norman Monarch who had earlier been rescued. For their services in getting away a lifeboat from the swiftly sinking ship, Able Seaman Donald Macphee of the Norman Monarch and Boatswain William John Lawton of the Harpagus were each awarded the King’s Commendation and the Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea.